33 Skip Barber Racing School graduates will compete for a fully sponsored drive in the 2014 Skip Barber Summer Series presented by Mazda

Skip Barber Racing School continues the 38-year tradition of finding, training and developing the best young drivers in the world with the 3rd annual Skip Barber Racing School INDYCAR Academy at Sebring International Raceway on December 15-17, 2014. The purpose of the Skip Barber IndyCar Academy is to provide drivers with no racing experience, and of all ages, with the opportunity to test themselves against some excellent drivers.

“A big reason I came out for this competition was to prove that an old guy like me," said Eric Sidebotham, 47, from Morgan Hill, Calif., "could come out here and still be competitive against very talented guys who were a lot younger than me." Sidebotham placed fourth in last year's competition.

Eligibility for the Skip Barber Racing School INDYCAR Academy is simple: graduate from one Skip Barber 3-Day Formula Car Racing School and 2-Day Advanced Racing School. Individuals must be nominated for the Academy by a Skip Barber Racing School Instructor and meet the following criteria:

No Car Racing ExperienceIncluding club, pro, historic and non-SBRS sanctioned shootoutsNo Outdoor Karting Experience

From the talented pool of applicants, only 33 are chosen to compete in the annual Skip Barber INDYCAR Academy, the Official Racing School of the Mazda Road to Indy. For an entry fee of $3,000, the participants recieve multiple on track sessions, sponorship instruction, driver preparation knowledge and feedback from Skip Barber Racing School instructors throughout the 3 day event.

“To be honest, this is an amazing opportunity for people who have never raced,” said Bruce MacInnes, a long-time Skip Barber Racing School instructor. “When I started racing, there was nothing like this and Skip Barber Racing School has become a venue for the best guys in America.

The event is an intense competition that rewards consistent speed and punishes mistakes. The grand prize is a fully sponsored entry in the 2015 Skip Barber Summer Series presented by Mazda.

Competing in the Skip Barber Race Series presented by Mazda makes it possible to have a shot at the year-end Skip Barber Race Series Championship Shootout and a chance for sponsored advancement down the Mazda Road to Indy: USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights.

In addition to the Skip Barber INDYCAR Academy, Skip Barber Racing School also provides two other paths for drivers to enter the Mazda Road to Indy.

For karters, Skip Barber Racing School conducts the Skip Barber Racing School Karts to Cars Shootout currently scheduled for October, which allows karters to move from karts to Formula Skip Barber 2000 race cars. The winner of the Karting Shootout will win a fully sponsored entry in either the summer or winter Skip Barber Racing Series in 2014-2015. For individuals with prior racing experience, Skip Barber Racing School offers an arrive-and-drive regional race series. Competing in the Skip Barber Race Series presented by Mazda makes it possible to have a shot at the year-end Skip Barber Race Series Champion Shootout and a chance for sponsored advancement down the Mazda Road to Indy.The 2014 Skip Barber Racing School INDYCAR Academy selection process is already underway with Skip Barber Racing School instructors handpicking their most talented students from the Skip Barber 3-Day Formula Car Racing School. For more information, call 800.221.1131 or go to skipbarber.com.

Skip Barber Racing School is the Official Racing School of the IZOD IndyCar Series