The FIA Rally Star Program aims to nurture future rally champions. Explore the details about the initiative in this week’s Driver Development Roundup.
You will also find out about how you can become your team’s most valuable driver, how an IMSA team is helping talented drivers and mechanics from Central America and the Caribbean get professional experience and much more.
It’s all in this week’s Driver Development Roundup on Motorsport Prospects. It’s news that aspiring race drivers can use.
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Forging a career as a driver in motorsport is an expensive business that can be exclusionary. But four fortunate young guns, whose World Rally Championship dream was seemingly impossible to attain, have now taken their first steps to become professional drivers courtesy of the FIA’s Rally Star program. Autosport looks at the program.
“There have been talent-finding initiatives in rallying before; think of the Pirelli Star Driver and WRC Academy that helped develop Tanak, Hayden Paddon and the late Craig Breen more than 10 years ago. But the new FIA Rally Star initiative has taken this idea to the next level, finding candidates aged 17-26 that will take advantage of a fully funded four-year programme (including two JWRC campaigns) driving an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 car. Should one of the drivers win the JWRC title, they will receive a funded programme in WRC2 in 2026.”
Terence Dove of On Racing Drivers by Terence Dove explains how you can become the team’s most valuable driver.
“Racing teams are racers first and foremost, trying to carve out a living. They’re not customer service reps waiting to cater to your every whim. This is where many go wrong, thinking that joining a team is a golden ticket to newfound speed and success. If that’s your line of thinking, you might be sorely disappointed and on the hunt for a new team sooner than you think.”
Victor Gonzalez Jr. of the Victor Gonzalez Racing Team is a man on a mission by offering opportunities for drivers and mechanics from Central America and the Caribbean. The first Puerto Rican driver in NASCAR history is on a mission. Gonzalez’s team, which competes in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, is staffed mostly by Hispanic employees, offering racing opportunities for talented drivers and mechanics who otherwise might not have a path to professional racing.
“That’s my mission,” Gonzalez said. “I know I’m not going to float everything by myself by any means, but you have to start somewhere. I’ve put all my life into this sport, and this is the right path. IMSA is the right place to do it.”
South African single-seater racing is set for a revolution, when a Investchem MSA4 takes over from Formula 1600 as the country’s premier wings and slicks class from 2025. Formula 1600 will continue for as is 2024, before being replaced by the unique new South African developed MSA4 cars next year.
“Already two years in the making, WCT Engineering has quietly been designing and developing our new car, which we are excited to now see coming together. As per the artist’s impression, the new MSA4 car not only looks far more contemporary, but it is safer, stronger, and considerably more advanced too. It also has a new downsized turbocharged Volkswagen engine and will be ready to deliver the next batch of South African racing stars.”
Speed Cafe profiles Carbon Racing’s new driver signings who will be racing in the newly renamed Australian Hyper Racer Championship. The series has also been granted the right to use the history-filled, 67-year-old title of Australian Drivers’ Championship (ADC).
“The signings are on the back on Carbon Racing becoming the exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributors for Italian lubricant manufacturer Pakelo Lubricants. Carbon Racing is actively seeking young drivers who want to transition from karts to open wheel racing where they will be mentored and guided by Sands and Crossland.”
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.
