Andrew Vincent tops MotorSport Elite Academy

Media Release
14 July 2010

Andrew Vincent tops MotorSport Elite Academy

Young Auckland Formula Ford driver Andrew Vincent topped this year’s MotorSport Elite Academy in Dunedin. Organised by the MotorSport Scholarship Trust on behalf of Motorsport New Zealand, the programme is run by professional sports scientists from the New Zealand Academy of Sport South and Otago University.

Second overall was William Bamber, a race driver from Wanganui and third was Stephen Barker a rally driver from Hamilton.

“Andrew graduated at the head of a field of nine outstanding young race and rally drivers who spent a gruelling week learning new skills and knowledge that will help them further their competitive careers,” chairman of the Trust and president of MotorSport New Zealand, Shayne Harris said.

“All graduates move now into the second year of the programme where they receive a $2000 credit for use in implementing their own personal performance plan which they have developed in association with mentors in the sport. A grant from SPARC helps fund this second year and mentors regularly monitor progress.

“For his win Andrew receives additional financial credits from the Scholarship Trust to help extend his programme.”

The nine participants at this year’s Academy were divided into three syndicates who worked together in group competitions and also worked as individuals on many tasks ranging from cooking to running up the steepest hill in the world to enduring 42 degree temperatures while driving a simulator for an hour.

Those and many other elements of the five day programme are designed to teach young drivers about how they and their bodies react under various conditions, the importance of fitness and nutrition, how to work with the media and sponsors.

“This is the seventh annual Academy and its success is plain for all to see, with young graduates now competing successfully in Europe, the USA, Australia and other parts of the world,” Shayne said. “Its effectiveness has also caught the eye of motorsport organisations in several countries.”

“We as a sport are indebted to the work that the Motorsport Scholarship Trust and Academy of Sport South does with these young athletes.

The full graduate class of the seventh MotorSport Elite Academy are:

• Race driver William Bamber, 17,Wanganui
• Rally driver Stephen Barker, 22, Hamilton
• Race driver Aaron Hodgson, 17, Auckland.
• Rally driver Alex Kelsey, 18, Coromandel
• Race driver Matthew Lockwood, 23, Palmerston North
• Rally driver Matthew Jansen, 23, Christchurch
• Race driver Daniel Jilesen 27, Taumarunui
• Race driver Andrew Vincent, 17, Papakura,
• Race driver Matthew Williams, 22, Christchurch

ENDS

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