Support for grass roots motor sport and the quest to unearth genuine talent will continue following an announcement this morning by Race Academy International, that its next event will be held on Friday, 6 December 2019, at Pheasant Wood Circuit at Marulan.
Hot on the heels of the success of its first event in March of this year, the driver talent program is ready to do it all again, having already helped unfunded rookie driver Rob Boaden live out his dream, and supported Reece Harradine and Daniel Smith to race wins and podiums.
The event offers three tiers of prize categories, Freshman, Clubman and State – with Freshman aimed at those with little to no motor racing experience. The latter two categories cater for those with more experience, looking to step up their involvement in the sport.
This time round the Freshman winner will receive a full test day ahead of the chance to drive in two rounds of the NSW Production Touring Car Championship Series in a Class E production car (in either a Hyundai Excel, Polo GTI or BMW E36).
The winner of the Clubman category will receive a shared practice day plus a minimum of two endurance rounds as the co-driver for the State winner, in the team’s V8 Holden Commodore in the NSW Production Touring Car Championship Series.
The car has runs on the board, with a podium class finish at the 2019 Bathurst 6-Hour and will be the season long ride for the winner of the State category, who will receive a full season in the NSW Production Touring Car Championship Series.
A significant reduction in the cost of entry for Clubman entrants has also been implemented for the second driver talent event, with pricing now set at $990 for Freshman, $1195 for Clubman and $1995 for State competitors.
“I would like to thank Race Academy International for starting their program, aimed at giving back to grass roots motorsport, and giving people like me the opportunity to prove to themselves and others, their driving ability,” event category winner Rob Boaden said.
“Winning the Freshman category was a dream come true. Being able to realise my dreams, which had been just out of reach my whole life, has been an amazing experience, and is a credit to the Race Academy International for their dedication to grass roots motor sport.”
The success of the first event, and the support RAI director Trevor Mirabito has received from the motor racing fraternity since launching the program, has given the grass roots racer and team manager all the proof he needs that there is an appetite for what he’s trying to achieve.
“Our format, and the judges we have in place certainly got it right from day one. Look at the talent, we’ve been able to unearth,” he said.
“Rob Boaden’s results, and the success of Reece Harradine and Daniel Smith are nothing short of a testament to the quality of our judging criteria, our team, and the genuine talent that exists out there.”
Entries are open now for their next event at Pheasant Wood Circuit, Marulan (located just 90 mins south of Sydney). More information on Race Academy International can be found at www.raceacademyinternational.com/programs
