16-year-old rally driver Tom Delaney has been awarded a place on the MSA Academy AASE programme for potentially elite athletes.

Having completed his schooling this summer, Delaney began the three-year programme in September, with a view to going on to work in the motorsport industry once completed.

The programme sees Delaney enrol as a student at Loughborough College, the MSA's partner in the programme. There, he will study a range of disciplines, including driving skills, physical conditioning and performance, nutrition, health and safety and a range of media-related activities. Tom will also receive 1:1 Coaching and Performance Management from qualified MSA Academy Coaches.

At the end of the programme he will have achieved a series of qualifications equivalent to three A Levels which are all related to his development as a rally driver.

Delaney said: "I am delighted to have been offered a place on the MSA Academy ASSE programme. When I finished my schooling this summer, I was a little unsure how to proceed - one option was a regular apprenticeship or a return to college.

"But this is perfect for me. It will help me to move towards my goal of becoming a professional rally driver and at the same time, give me a range of skills that will help in other jobs within motorsport."

The programme features structured traditional learning methods to gain knowledge and experience in sports science, tailored with athlete-specific education; in Delaney's case, business, motor vehicle and technical aspects of driving. Over 150 motorsport athletes alone have graduated from the AASE programme over the last seven years and many thousands more have within their own chosen sports.

Delaney will continue to contest this year's Formula 1000 Junior Rally Championship, in which he lies sixth out of 21 drivers, despite having missed two rounds due to his exams and before dropped scores are taken into account.

The next round is the Peter Lloyd Stages Rally in October.