Having recently been crowned 2011 Ginetta G50 Cup Champion – his second car racing title in as many campaigns – highly-rated young High Wycombe star Tom Ingram now has even more reason to celebrate, after being selected for inclusion on the MSA Academy’s prestigious Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).
The government-funded AASE is a human performance-enhancing and educational initiative aimed at developing participants into elite athletes capable of competing at the very highest level, catering for 16-18-year-olds and running alongside their sporting programmes.
A sports science course, it is designed to teach students how to improve their athletic prowess and achieve competitive advantage, helping talented drivers to attain excellence and realise their full potential by focussing upon academic theory and practical and vocational learning.
AASE athletes partake in various workshops and training courses delivered by motorsport specialists. Students receive three separate qualifications within the AASE framework – a Level 3 NVQ in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance, a Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Sport (Performance and Excellence) and an MSA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Motorsport.
“It’s a real honour to be chosen by the MSA to participate in the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence,” enthused Tom, already a BRDC Rising Star. “I feel this will help me greatly in my racing career, and I’m very much looking forward to learning from industry experts and not only gaining valuable knowledge but also improving my fitness and my diet.”
Prior to clinching the Ginetta G50 Cup laurels at Brands Hatch earlier this month, the 18-year-old had impressed by claiming the BRDC Stars of Tomorrow British Karting Championship in 2006 and the Ginetta Junior Championship last year – only his second season in cars. MSA Academy co-ordinator Greg Symes admits that such outstanding successes make him a perfect candidate for the AASE programme. “In his short career so far, Tom has demonstrated that he has the potential and desire to reach the pinnacle of motorsport,” he explained. “He is a driver who can win even when the odds are against him, and as such, he is a welcome addition to the AASE and the MSA Academy talent development pathway.”
Tom is seeking sponsorship to enable him to continue progressing his burgeoning career in 2012; if you are interested in supporting him, please e-mail: tom@ingram26.fsnet.co.uk
