Entry level drivers selected for 2007 CAMS Rising Star Program
C Terpos
October 17, 2006
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport is pleased to announce the selection of four young drivers as the entry level squad members for the 2007 CAMS Rising Star Program. Leigh Nicolaou (Vic), Daniel Erickson (NSW), Scott Pye (SA) and Robert Munnerley (Vic) were the successful candidates to have made it through the final interview process for the entry level of the Program.
The top six candidates were interviewed last Thursday by a special panel which included representatives from CAMS and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) psychologist Vicki dePrazer. The interview process is new to the Rising Star Program and has been introduced to give program organisers greater insight into the career goals and commitment of the young drivers prior to selection into the squad.
CAMS Member Services and Development Manager, Quentin Crombie, was thrilled with the quality of the candidates.
"Having an opportunity to interview these young drivers prior to selection into the squad has definitely added an extra dimension to the selection process. The four candidates that we selected were extremely impressive and their feedback during the interviews was superb. We have in our midst four very committed and determined young sportsmen and all of them clearly articulated that their goal is Formula 1, which is a Program prerequisite."
The four drivers have come from sprint karting and have outstanding resumes which are studded with victories.
"Although only averaging 17 years of age, they have approximately 35 years of motor sport experience between them and like most budding Formula 1 drivers, they started their racing careers in sprint karting at the tender ages of seven and eight," concluded Crombie.
However the real test is yet to come as all four drivers will now attend a training camp at the AIS as well as an on-track evaluation day to determine who will receive one of the subsidised drives for 2007. The evaluation will take place in late November with the successful candidate being provided significant financial assistance to contest the 2007 Victorian Formula Ford 1600 Championship with Program partner Borland Racing Developments.
The successful candidate will be one of four young drivers to receive financial support, with three other experienced racing drivers being chosen to run at state and national level. In total this will give a squad of seven and although the remaining three entry level candidates will not be supported financially to race, they will receive other invaluable benefits including attendance at the AIS, fortnightly contact with the AIS psychologist, access to mentors and access to other CAMS and Australian Motor Sport Foundation networks.
Interviews for the other three racing seats will take place at the end of October and the full 2007 squad will be announced in early December.
The CAMS Rising Star program would not be possible without the support of our key partners which include the Australian Sports Commission, Borland Racing Developments, Robert Bosch (Australia), the Australian Motor Sport Foundation, OAMPS, Wakefield Park, Mark Webber and Revolution Racegear.
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For more information regarding this release please contact:
Chris Terpos, Communications Coordinator, CAMS
Tel: (03) 9593 7777
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION PURPOSES - NO REGULATORY VALUE
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