Aston Martin Racing have announced the launch of the Evolution Academy – a young driver development programme which could see one lucky driver handed a works contract for 2016.
The programme, which was launched at the Autosport International Show, will support drivers aged between 17-25 who are racing in an Aston Martin GT3 or GT4 car this year.
Aston’s Evolution Academy is open for applications from interested drivers, but with the Banbury team wanting to nurture talent for 2016 there will only be 10 successful drivers admitted into the Academy. In the Academy they will be paired with an experienced GT driver as well as receiving simulator development, PR support and fitness & nutrition advice.
To get to the promised land, potential participants need to submit their CVs to be vetted to a panel include Aston Martin boss John Gaw.
He said: “We’ve been very supportive of young drivers at Aston Martin Racing for several years now. We had seven young drivers in our team at Spa 24 Hours last year and have signed two young drivers to our works team for the past two years.
“However, this is the first time we have offered a full programme designed specifically to develop some of the sport’s top upcoming stars, focusing not just on on-track activities but all areas required to become a successful driver with a long and lucrative career.”
The winner could see their career explode on a level they probably couldn’t have imagined, last year Aston’s squad of GTE, GT3 and GT4 cars took on 24 hour races at Le Mans, Spa and the Nurburgring as well as British GT, WEC, ELMS and Blancpain Endurance Series races. With success coming in most – if not all – of these events, young drivers will be flooding Aston’s offices.
John Gaw added: “At Aston Martin Racing we have a proven track record of taking drivers from a GT4 programme through GT3 to the pinnacle of current GT racing, GTE. The Evolution Academy is a fantastic opportunity for young drivers and we have invested in it because we are confident we can find our future works team drivers this way.”
For more information, and for contact details on how to join the academy, check out the Evolution Academy’s brochure here: Aston Martin Evolution Academy Brochure.
