Following on from the Racing Steps Foundation, on January 9 the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) announced its own driver development programme, the BRDC Superstars initiative.
The scheme is a product of a BRDC working group set up to discover how the Club could improve its support for young drivers, alongside its already established BRDC Rising Stars programme.
Twelve drivers will be selected for scheme in its first year and these are due to be announced within the next month. The successful applicants will attend workshops, be able to call on the experience of the BRDC members and receive one-to-one advice from former BTCC champion and Superstars director, Tim Harvey.
More importantly, BRDC President and 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill intends to secure enough commercial backing to provide fully sponsored drives to at least some of the participants in 2009.
In showing a meritocratic and commercial commitment to young talent the BRDC is braced to become the brightest light in international motorsport. Whilst funding is not yet guaranteed, the selected panel of judges leaves me with optimism. None of Harvey, Hill, Andy Priaulx or Jason Plato were particularly well funded during their early careers.
I would hope that my achievements in 2007, winning the 750MC UK Formula Vee Championship and being named Number 1 Club Driver of the Year by Autosport, would be enough to merit me a place on the programme or at the very least an opportunity to present myself to the panel.
I had at first thought that my lack of a confirmed drive in 2008 may hamper my eligibility. But the more I think about it, isn’t that the point?
