Following the success of recent television talent shows such as Pop Idol, X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing; British television will have a new reality television show this Autumn.

This time, the prize is a place on the starting grid in one of the UK’s highest profile motor racing championships and the chance for an unknown driver to make a mark as the next Lewis Hamilton.

The Dunlop Race Academy will be broadcast by Motors TV in the Autumn, and highlights will also be shown on Sky Sports coverage of the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup.

In the two one-hour programmes, viewers will be able to see the determination, elation (and pain) as 6,000 wannabe racers are whittled down to twenty one semi finalists and just three finalists.

The winner of Dunlop Race Academy 2007 will race in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup, a feeder series to the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship, driving a 150mph SEAT Leon FR, at Brands Hatch in October. After taking part in the championship race, the winner will go on to sample some of the perks and privileges of being a racing driver, as he jets off to Monaco for a couple of nights stay at the world famous Columbus hotel owned by Britain’s own F1 driver David Coulthard.

Dunlop’s James Bailey is confident that the programme will deliver compelling drama: “From 6000 winners there can only be one winner in the Dunlop Race Academy. That driver will benefit from the knowledge and support that stems from the century of experience that Dunlop have in topline motorsport – so it is a prize they all want to win.  Our ambition is to get a Dunlop Race Academy winner into the highest levels of motorsport, such as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship where they can challenge the likes of Matt Neal and Jason Plato in years to come”

Dunlop Tyres has attracted a record number of entrants for this year’s Dunlop Race Academy with nearly 7000 driving fans entering the competition.

Now in its fourth year, Race Academy has been dubbed the ‘X Factor of motorsport’ and has so far attracted close to 25,000 entries in 4 years.

In 2007, British Touring Car Championship winner Matt Neal will be joining the training team and panel of judges during the final round to find a racing star of the future. The competition stages have also been widened to encompass three regional semi-finals with 21 finalists taking part from across the UK.

To follow the Dunlop Race Academy action this summer, simply visit driversknow.co.uk