Jul 31, 2020, 10:00 AM

ASTON MARTIN RACING DRIVER ACADEMY KICKS OFF AS MOTOR SPORT RESUMES IN 2020

  • Aston Martin Racing opens AMR Driver Academy as racing returns
  • 13 drivers selected for programme incorporating Covid-19 measures
  • Winner receives works support and assistance for 2021 season
Friday 31 July, 2020, Gaydon. The resumption of international motorsport across the globe, has signalled the start of the 2020 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy as the British luxury sportscar manufacturer continues to uncover the next generation of GT endurance superstars.
 
The initiative, designed to fast-track talent within Aston Martin Racing’s thriving customer team network proved a huge success in 2019, and this year another 13 candidates have signed up to the AMR Driver Academy from a range of championships around the world. An unrivalled platform for learning and development with an established manufacturer, this essential initiative has been fine-tuned and improved again to more effectively coach this fresh crop of drivers. While at the same time, it has also been tailored to counter the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The AMR Young Driver Academy is eligible to drivers aged between 17 and 25 and open to those with planned Vantage GT3 and GT4 race programmes in recognised championships. The prize on offer for the successful graduate will be financial support towards their 2021 race programme, simulator time and fitness sessions and a TAG Heuer AMR timepiece.
 
Just as before, this year’s contestants will be judged on a wide range of criteria including pace, consistency and technical feedback. The judging panel will also evaluate drivers’ ability to manage the strategic, teamwork, commercial and public relations aspects of their role. Finally, the outstanding candidate will demonstrate the most potential to develop their talent for the future.
 
The 2019 British GT4 champion Tom Canning emerged top of the class in the 2019 AMR Driver Academy. The 17-year-old, from Bath in Somerset, who follows in in the footsteps of 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Jonny Adam and works FIA World Endurance Championship driver Ross Gunn, has since undertaken a test in a works Aston Martin Vantage GTE in Bahrain last December and will receive support from the factory throughout his campaign this year.
 
Aston Martin Racing President David King added: “That there is a fresh group of talented individuals ready and eager to participate in the 2020 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy, in spite of the difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic, demonstrates the value of this initiative and the importance of the junior GT racing ecosystem. It remains our mission to uncover the best young talent emerging through our customer network, so that we may both assist them in their future careers and protect the competitve prospects for Aston Martin Racing and the teams that race our cars in the long-term.”
 
ASTON MARTIN RACING DRIVER ACADEMY CANDIDATES
 
 
Driver Team Series Car
Jamie Caroline (UK)
Roman DeAngelis (CAN)
Cedric Freiburghaus(CHE)
Valentin Hasse Clot (FR)
Robert Hefler (HUN)
Patrick Kibble (UK)
Kenton Koch (USA)
Antonio Ledesma (MEX)
TF Sport
Heart of Racing
ProSport
Garage 59
Virage
TF Sport
Bsport Racing
Virage
British GT
IMSA
GT4 European Series
GT World Challenge Eu
GT Cup Open
British GT
GT4SX
Ultimate Cup Series
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT3
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT3
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
Connor O’Brien (UK)
Theo Nouet (FR)        
TF Sport
AGS
British GT
GT4 European Series
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
Akhil Rabindra (IND)
Nate Stacey (USA)
Dan Vaughan (UK)
           
AGS
KohR Motorsport
TF Sport
 
GT4 European Series
Michelin Pilot Challenge
British GT       
 
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
Vantage GT4
 
 
 
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