Disabled race drivers thrive at Team BRIT because the whole team is based around their needs, and they are as competitive as any other team on the grid. Not only that but I have the details on Team BRIT’s rookie to racing driver program that looks to carry on their competitive tradition and gives you the opportunity to race for them.
I also have details on McLaren Racing’s driver development program, PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout, NASCAR’s Rev Racing program and more.
All this plus two new F4 driver championships in Europe and much more in this week’s Driver Development Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
And don’t forget that Motorsport Prospects has teamed up with Racing Edge to be part of their “Weekly Motoring Goodness” newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed yet, consider signing up for some great News Racers Can Use! You can sign up here!
Race Driver Development Roundup
Team BRIT are a competitive motor racing team, make no mistake about it, but they set themselves aside from the rest of the pack by racing with drivers who are disabled. They are a competitive racing team, not a charity enterprise, and they pit themselves against non-disabled drivers in motorsport races across a number of different classes. Team BRIT was set up as an offshoot of KartForce, whose goal is to inspire those with disabilities, PTSD and mental health issues by demonstrating what they can achieve through motorsport.
Are you in the UK, disabled but interested in taking up competitive motorsport? Then the Team BRIT rookie to racing driver program (sorry programme as this is the UK!) may be the program for you.
We can provide you with a programme that includes coaching in a race car fitted with racing hand controls, including sitting your ARDS Test to acquire your official Motorsport UK Race Licence.
https://teambrit.co.uk/news/new-rookie-racing-project-launched/
After that, we can provide support and guidance to help you find a route to go racing, one of which could be our C1 Rookie Racing Project – full info on this year’s C1 project here…
Team BRIT 2023 C1 RACING TEAM
The programme will be spaced over 2 months and will include…
• 3 x coaching sessions
• 1 x ARDS Test
• BMW 1 Series Race Car
• Helmet
• Coaching
• Max 4 rookies per course
• Cost – £2,250 plus VAT
If you’re interested email info@teambrit.co.uk
Speed Cafe looks at the several young talented Australian drivers who were given plenty of track time at Winton Motor Raceway last week at GRM ‘Mini-Combine’.
“The events are led by competition director Marcos Ambrose and are modelled on the US-style training camps. Among those to have laps and schooling included Tabitha Ambrose (daughter of Marcos), Charlie Parker, Jack Johnson, Winston Smith, Kyle Gurton, Sebastian Amadio, and Edan Thornburrow.”
McLaren Racing has announced the formation of the McLaren Driver Development program, led by former McLaren test driver, Formula 1 driver, and Le Mans winner, Emanuele Pirro.
As part of the program, McLaren will support young drivers in their development from karting to professional racing driver with the aim of facilitating the progression of emerging talent into F1. Alongside this support for emerging grassroots talent, the program will also support established professional drivers in other series, providing them with opportunities to gain experience in F1.
The program also creates a potential talent pipeline for the McLaren Formula 1 Team, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, in either a race seat, or test and development driver capacity.
Are you an aspiring race driver? Canadian sports car racing team PT Autosport is dedicated to increasing the presence of individuals in the motorsports industry from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Through their Driver Shootout, they provide talented yet underfunded drivers the chance to further their racing career.
The 2023 PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout will take place on August 1, 2023 to August 3, 2023. Applications are now open! Full details can be found at https://ptautosport.com/aspiring-driver-shootout/,
RACER looks at the reality of a European move for U.S. drivers. They look at the career of Red Bull-backed, 17 year old American driver Jak Crawford and some of the sacrifices and changes he has gone through to pursue his passion.
“I miss my family, of course,” he says. “I had to leave school quite early at 12 years old, then I started doing homeschooling or online school on my own. So I think I miss, you know, the bit of the childhood of growing up as a teenager and the high school part of it, which is tough. It was something that I wanted – I’m a very social person, especially with my friends. So that was a really difficult part, to miss out on on the social life of just an American sort of high school thing. But it’s definitely worth it.”
Autosport looks at the tough decision facing drivers climbing the UK single-seater ranks. “Choosing between a second year in a series or progressing further up the single-seater ladder is always tricky for young drivers. But, now Formula 1 teams are increasingly favouring experience in their line-ups, it’s become even more difficult – and a look at the UK categories shows some intriguing approaches.”
The Charlotte Observer looks at five Gen Z drivers challenging NASCAR stereotypes in Charlotte as part of NASCAR’s Rev Racing program.
“Rev Racing’s one-year development program is free to drivers. A typical day includes meeting with their crew chief and other team members to debrief or prepare for races. They work out daily with weights and cardio, practice with racing simulators and work on their cars. They keep up with their education online and sometimes attend college classes. Other training includes branding, media and interview skills, and social media management. Rev Racing’s website displays at least 28 sponsors, including NASCAR, Sunoco, Goodyear, Mobile 1, Honda Generators and 3M.”
Pole Position’s Ryan Trutch explains how he aims to drive the UAE’s young talent to the finishing line as part of his Greenpower program.
We’re introducing Greenpower, a STEM learning programme for schools, to the UAE. This programme, which has over 15,000 students in 12 countries worldwide, promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) education. We’re delighted that GEMS has expressed interest in incorporating this programme into 43 schools in the UAE.
Motorsport ignites young people’s passion for science and engineering. Greenpower challenges them to construct, design, and race an electric car, which will aid in bridging the STEM skills gap. This programme encourages participation in motorsport, while also fostering a passion for engineering. We’ve already received positive feedback from parents eager to fund an EV kart kit for their children’s own school. They recognize the STEM and team-building benefits, as well as the potential career pathways.
Pole Position’s Ryan Trutch on how he aims to drive the region’s young talent to the finishing line
Series News
After being postponed by a year, the ACCR Formula 4 championship will finally get underway at the Hungaroring on April 29/30 to start a planned six-round season. ACCR F4 will use Tatuus’s second-generation T-421 F4 car with Autotecnica engines, and the original plan to boost grids by running a separate class for first-generation F4 chassis has been dropped to align with FIA requirements.
According to the organizers, the series will be budget friendly. “Our most important task is to keep the costs low. Ideally, we will be somewhere between EUR 75,000-100,000. However, this always depends on how much money the teams will have to spend for testing, for simulator training, etc. To further help our drivers’ development, we have scheduled 75 minutes of free practice on race weekend Fridays, which are included in the entry fee.”
ACI Sport has now revealed its latest project, the Euro 4 Championship. The new F4-level series joins Italian F4 as one of the main single-seater championships run by ACI Sport in collaboration with WSK. Feeder Series has an overview of what they know so far.
“(The series) aims to close the gap that was previously left open when news broke out that ADAC Formula 4 would not be returning in 2023, as Feeder Series reported here. With the former German championship being a good opportunity for drivers and teams alike, it was the teams themselves who actually wanted a new series to rise from ADAC F4’s ashes and the Euro 4 championship promises to be just that.”
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand have confirmed the prize package for its champion and top rookie in the 2023 Toyota 86 Championship and it’s going to be its biggest ever. The championship winner and top rookie will be heading to Europe for an all-expenses paid trip to race a GR Supra GT4 Evo in the third round of the ADAC GT4 Germany championship at the iconic Nürburgring.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.