Following an intensive three-day shootout in Austria, 12 drivers have won places in the FIA Institute’s inaugural Young Driver Excellence Academy. The drivers come from a variety of racing disciplines and were nominated by their FIA-affiliated national sporting associations (ASNs) before being narrowed down by the FIA Institute.
They are: Kevin Abbring (21, Netherlands); Paul-Loup Chatin (19, France); Albert Costa (20, Spain); Alon Day (19, Israel); Philipp Eng (20, Austria); Robin Frijns (19, Netherlands); Timmy Hansen (18, Sweden); Egon Kaur (23, Estonia); Andreas Mikkelsen (21, Norway); Alexander Rossi (19, US); Richie Stanaway (19, New Zealand) and Stoffel Vandoorne (18, Belgium).
The 12 will now be coached in the car by former Formula One race driver Alex Wurz and his company Test and Training International, and out of the car by former World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid and his company Elite Sports Performance.
“This selection event has been an incredible story for the FIA Institute,” said the FIA Institute’s director general, Richard Woods.”We started out with a process that was open to drivers across the world. After an exceptional response from the ASNs, we chose 18 drivers who arrived here in Austria on Saturday. From those 18 we have the 12 who will go forward for the season.
“But there really are no losers here. Those who haven’t been successful have spent three days in the company of world-class competitors and coaches and have had the opportunity to learn a huge amount. Now we look ahead to our first year with the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. The drivers will spend a lot of time with Alex and Robert through this season, learning more about car control, fitness, psychology and, of course road safety.”
Over the next nine months, the 12 drivers will attend six separate workshops of between three and five days at different locations in Europe. The driving elements of the course will include the development of technical skills, safety training, attitudes and awareness. The human performance aspect will feature physiology, psychology, nutrition, media skills and career management.
The first Academy workshop will take place on February 26 in Edinburgh.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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