After completing the first successful season in 2013, Mercedes-Benz has announced the Young Star Driver Programme Season II to spot and nurture young talents to become future race drivers in India. Registrations are now open and the finals will be held at the Buddh International Circuit Formula One race track. The participants not only embark into the world professional motor racing, but also get a chance to showcase and improve their racing skills on international tracks with guidance from globally acclaimed trainers.
The Mercedes Young Star Driver Programme is open for aspiring racers between the ages of 18 to 25 years, which will be selected from across the nation. Much like last year, the participants will be judged by Vicky Chandhok and his team that will shortlist 24 participants who will be competing against each other in the finale to qualify for the final 6 slots. Aspirants with any previous background or achievements in motorsports will be given priority, although it is not mandatory. The elimination rounds will be conducted on 7th August and the grand finale on 8th August, 2014.
The winner of the Young Star Driver Programme Season II will win a once in a lifetime opportunity of winning a seat in the AMG Driving Academy PRO-Training in Germany. The runners-up will get AMG Driving Academy BASIC & ADVANCED course in India. Adding to that, the winner also gets a chance to meet none other than Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team drivers, Lewis Hamilton or Nico Roseberg at one of the F1 races this year.
Participants need to visit the Mercedes-Benz Performance Drive website to register for Young Star Driver Program and can also use their Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus account to login and upload their CV. The first season of the Young Star Driver Programme was very successful, receiving close to 3200 applications from 48 Indian cities and towns. With motorsport still at a nascent stage in the country, initiatives like these are always a huge welcome.
