Force India Formula One Team announced the launch of the Force India F1 Team Academy. The only F1 Team in the country has aimed at identifying racing talent in India and providing vocational and academic training for young Indians aspiring to a serious professional career in motorsports. On April 25, 2011, the Academy will launch its first comprehensive initiative, the ‘Hunt for 1 from a Billion, to identify and groom a future racing star from India. The Academy will fully support the winner over the next three years and a career path will be drawn out, depending on the progress made in 2012. The intent is to groom the winner through various stages leading up to a point where the winner is qualified and ready to apply for a super license from the FIA to drive in Formula 1.
The three-stage programme of the Hunt comprises :-
“Hunt for 1 from a Billion” – This is a grassroots initiative aimed at identifying racing talent via a karting programme in India. In the first stage of the Hunt, the Academy will conduct :-
Regional Trials in 7 cities across India where hundreds of aspirants can practise karting at subsidized rates and participate in selection rounds, all spread over a week in each city. 14 finalists will then get selected from each city and go on to the next level.
National Final – 100 finalists (14 from each of the seven cities and two wild card entries) will compete against each other in September 2011 to win a place among 10 finalists who then move on to the next level of the programme.
The driver hunt is proposed to be held every two years.
Silverstone Finale – From October 3 to October 8, 2011, ten finalists from the National Final will go on to do a week-long intensive stint at Silverstone, UK comprising sessions on driver tuition on Dmax Karts, a day at the Porsche Human Performance Centre to assess and develop fitness for motorsports, media training with Goodman Media, two full days at the Silverstone F1 circuit with sessions on safety, car control training, driver assessment, and race procedure briefing. The ten selected drivers will complete their Silverstone experience with a race in Formula Silverstone cars. At the end of the intensive hands-on week, an expert panel will pick three winners on the basis of a holistic assessment of their multiple capabilities and proficiency in requisite areas. The three winners will be announced in India around the time of the Grand Prix of India in October 2011.
Future Champions Programme
The three winners of the Silverstone Finale will be groomed as follows in 2012 : –
The winner will be put through a full season of racing in a competitive championship in the United Kingdom.
The first runner up will go on to do a full season of racing in a competitive championship in India.
The second runner up will go on to receive special racing tuitions in an Asian racing school.
So if your under 17 years of age and think you have it in you to become the next Schumacher, go ahead and register yourself here.
