The 5 things you need to do to succeed in motorsport is just part of what I am featuring in this week’s Driver Development Roundup. I also have details on the exciting changes to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program, how the Dragon Sport Shootout is chosen and the work of the Motorsport UK Academy. All this and more in this week’s edition of the Driver Development Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
In the video above, Enzo Mucci explains the 5 things you need to do in order to make it to F1 like Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman.
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program will once again take place in 2024, with the prestigious event earmarked for September.
Taking place at the famous Sepang International Raceway in Malaysia on 15-19 September, candidates selected for September’s camp will be able to showcase their talent in Formula 4 Generation 2 cars under the watchful eye of Ferrari Driver Academy scouts.
In addition to hours of track time, the regional selection program also includes multiple development opportunities, including fitness testing, nutrition and psychology workshops and media training from a number of industry professionals, including leading Asian motorsport company, Top Speed.
And in a major first for the regional Selection Program, the top five drivers at the conclusion of the third round of the 2024 Formula 4 Australian Championship season will be invited to attend Sepang for the five-day event should they meet the selection criteria.
Aspiring drivers aged between 14 and 17 and encouraged to apply for the FDA Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program and have until 11:59pm AEST on Sunday 16 June to apply for the event.
Full details can be found here.
Scholarships are an important way of helping drivers struggling for budget onto the grid. But, as Autosport found out first hand with the Dragon Sport shootout, the assessment days can be very intense. Here are the details on how the Dragon Sport Scholarship winner is chosen.
“Clearly anyone that wins the scholarship is representing Dragon Sport, so they need to be able to represent them well,” points out 2019 Renault UK Clio Cup runner-up Max Coates, scholarship organiser and one of the day’s driver coaches.”
Westin Workman, Sally Mott and Nathan Nicholson have already won significant support from Mazda Motorsports’ MX-5 Cup Scholarship program. Now, as RACER’s Marshall Pruett discovers in the video above, their eyes are focused firmly on the bigger prizes that lie ahead within Mazda’s own programs and beyond.
Autosport looks at how the Motorsport UK Academy is helping drivers along the road to success.
“Motorsport UK Academy is a talent development pathway for young athletes that show potential to make it to the top levels of the sport,” explains the governing body’s head of competitor development Katie Baldwin. “Through our programmes, we give drivers an insight into what it takes to get to the top and the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive. Just being quick behind the wheel isn’t enough these days and you have got to look at what you’re doing away from the track, away from the car, to make sure when you’re in the car you’re going to realise your potential.”
GT Talent is back on track with the 2024 edition of their driver search program. “If you dream of becoming a car racer, GT Talent is your chance to prove yourself. Head, heart, nerves. Only a true tracktalent can pass all the tests and win the ultimate prize: participating in a championship with a real race car.”
Full details can be found here.
Formula Woman is hosting a free webinar with race driver Alana Carter on the topic of Sportsmanship in Motorsport. It will take place on April 18th at 6:00 PM (GMT+0). You can register to attend here.
Westin Workman is one of the Mazda Scholarship winners that I mentioned above. Racer looks at how his race career has progressed and what his plans are next.
“The support that Mazda gives the grassroots racers is second to none. So, we got a little bit of support to run Spec MX-5 again for 2023. I ended up doing very well. I had a few wins and finished second in the championship. It was really just a breakout year for me in sports cars, and I was able to start to prove what I could do. Then I got invited back for the Scholarship Shootout.”
Bolt has a great feature on their work with race driver Caitlin Wood and her work as an advocate for equality and diversity in motorsport, showing that “hard work doesn’t have a gender.”
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.
