The new-for-2011 FIA WRC Academy has been in the planning stages for almost two years and will break cover on Vodafone Rally de Portugal next week.
WRC Academy principal and driving force Marc de Jong is your guide:
So what’s the WRC Academy all about?
“It’s a motorsport series with a difference. It’s a competition but it’s mixed in with a training and tuition programme designed to give drivers an idea of what it takes to make them top class rally drivers through testing, workshops and lectures.”
How much work has gone into getting the WRC Academy off the ground?
“It started off 18 months ago with some brainstorming to find a new direction for the Junior World Rally Championship, which had gone beyond an affordable and accessible level and needed to be revamped. In the course of the year, we spoke to 12 manufacturers and tuning companies and finally in Ford and Pirelli we have two fantastic partners. I must also thank the FIA, particularly Michele Mouton, Jarmo Mahonen and Morrie Chandler for getting it up and running.”
Will there be a capacity entry?
“We have 20 drivers registered and there are 24 spaces available. The final deadline for registrations is 31 March and we’re expecting to have more people for the next round in Italy.”
What’s the format of the events?
“We’ve tried to provide as much benefit in the shortest time possible. Most of the drivers will be coming into the WRC Academy from national events that last for no more than one day. With a two-day recce, an extended pre-event test and a two-day rally we thought that was a good balance of 300 kilometres on the events.”
What else will happen on the six rounds this year?
“Two days of rallying will be supplemented by an extended test on a Thursday to give drivers the chance to learn the local terrain and the car. This will be followed by a comprehensive debrief on the Sunday after each rally with stats and videos and a chance for the drivers to reflect on what they’ve done during the event. This will be helpful in terms of developing their potential while also providing tough competition.”
All drivers will get a Ford Fiesta R2 to use but will the cars be equal?
“The cars will be identical and will all be run by M-Sport and it’s credit to M-Sport for the amount of work they have put in to providing a quality and value for money package, while ensuring the same cars and equipment that will mean it’s the driving that will count. On top of that, all drivers will have the same Pirelli tyres. Unless there are any extreme cases, drivers will use the same car all year although the ECUs will be chosen by lottery on each event.”
Can drivers choose their navigators or will the organisers influence the decision?
“Drivers are free to pick and choose. We’ll be looking to provide support as we realise the events will be held on varying terrain and surfaces. But in most cases drivers have kept the same co-driver they’ve been working with for some time.”
How good is the WRC Academy’s first intake?
“There are a lot of drivers who have finished in the top three of their national championships or series so they all have potential. There’s a big age range from 17-24 so they all have to be judged differently but many have support from their national associations and for that reason the expectations are high.”
They will start the season in Portugal next week on the back of an extensive training programme in the UK earlier this month. Was that a success?
“The induction programme gave everybody the opportunity to drive the car but to also get some workshop and classroom-based training on a variety of topics. It was impossible to impart all the information they will need in just a few days but it was a good start and, during the year, we will be making sure the drivers are coming up to the level where they get the experience and knowledge to be the best they can on the events.”
And finally, what does the winner get?
“Thanks to FIA and Pirelli the winner will get 500,000 Euros as a scholarship to develop their career in the WRC.”
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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