Academy provides graduate training for stars of tomorrow
Three of the top drivers from this year’s BRDC Single Seater Championship headed to Silverstone, the Home of British Motor Racing, earlier this week to get their first taste of test driving a Formula Renault, provided by the Race Drivers Academy (RDA), in association with Hillspeed Racing. In unusually dry and sunny conditions Nick Tandy, James Littlejohn and Mike Moyers impressed both RDA and Hillspeed with their pace around Silverstone’s Stowe Circuit.
The driver’s times could not have been closer but Tandy had the edge with a time of 36.17 seconds, followed closely by Littlejohn with 36.27 secs, and Moyers on 36.29 secs. Silverstone Motorsport Academy, the UK’s leading race tuition and driver coaching centre, has been working closely with the Race Drivers Academy in 2005 and is forging a strong partnership for the future.
Richard and Seb King, from the RDA, have set up a truly unique initiative where budding F1 hopefuls can use the skills learnt while competing in motorsport, to count towards a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance Motorsport Driving, with a 1 year top up to Full Honours Degree status.
RDA and Loughborough College provide the majority of the modules counting towards the degree, but Silverstone Motorsport Academy’s 5-Day Race Intensive Course will provide the driver training element of the Qualification.
Richard King, from RDA, was at Silverstone during the test to talk to potential students, “I am delighted to be working with Silverstone on this project. Previously, parents may have been wary about their child focusing too much of their time on motorsport, however, with this foundation course youngsters can obtain a recognised qualification, quashing those fears and encouraging drivers into the sport.
“I was very pleased with the coaching provided by Silverstone Motorsport Academy when my son, Seb, was starting out. I would not choose anywhere else for the driver training element of this course to be delivered.” The foundation degree course will be starting in 2006 and has already received great interest from prospective students.
