MotorSport Names Nine Candidates to 2007 Elite

MotorSport Names Nine Candidates to 2007 Elite Academy

Nine talented young racing and rally drivers will attend the week long MotorSport Elite Academy in Dunedin in July.

“There was intense competition for the available spaces,” said Steven Kennedy, chairman of the MotorSport NZ Scholarship Trust which organises and funds the academy.

“Everyone can see the success of drivers who have graduated from the programme over the past three years and recognise how important it has been to their development.

“The programme, which is run for the Trust by the New Zealand Academy of Sport South and Otago University’s sports science specialists, focuses on a wide range of skills required for high performance sport. Participants have to have a very high standard of physical fitness prior to commencing the course.

“The scientists have recognised that the level of fitness of the young drivers we have put through the academy has been the equal of Olympic athletes and their reaction times have been equal to or better than those of fighter pilots.

“The Academy is a tough programme, but the performance of many young Kiwi drivers both at home and overseas shows the huge benefits to the sport.”

This year’s Academy class will comprise:

Earl Bamber (Wanganui), raced this season in Toyota Racing Series, current Formula BMW Asia Pacific champion, currently testing in Europe for Formula Renault and attending college.

Jonathon Lester (Taupo), son and grandson of former racers Richard and Rob, finished fourth in this year’s Porsche GT3 championship and in the process became the youngest driver in the world to win a GT3 race.

Caine Lobb (Christchurch), raced Formula First and Formula Ford, currently working as an assistant racing driver instructor.

Richard Moore (Auckland), former karter, who completed his first season in circuit racing campaigning a Mini Challenge car and continuing to attend college.

Anthony Pedersen (Rotorua), son of NVZ8s driver Paul Pedersen, former karter who completed his first season in Mini Challenge, currently attending Massey University.

Dominic Storey (Auckland), former karter, contested Formula BMW Asia Pacific championship in 2006 with several podium finishes, planning to do full season with Toyota Racing series next summer and attending college.

Dean Sumner (Rotorua), currently competing for a fifth season in the NZ Rally Championship, has already proved a success in the very competitive rally environment.

Greg Teece (Nelson), a competitor in regional rallies, Rally Extreme and the Mainland series and showing considerable talent.

Alastair Wootten (Auckland), former karter and last season’s SpeedSport scholar racing in Formula First and planning to race Formula Ford next season.

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