THE
NEXT WORLD RALLY STAR WILL BE CROWNED IN MALAYSIA
The world governing body of
motorsport, the FIA, recently launched the Pirelli-backed
‘star driver' project offering drivers of qualifying
age competing in the International Rally of Whangarei, NZ
in June and Rally Malaysia in October a fantastic opportunity
to further their rallying career.
The Pirelli star driver scheme
is a world-wide search for five young rally drivers from the
2008 and 2009 FIA regional championships; one each from the
Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions and two from
Europe. In 2008, Rally of Whangarei and Rally Malaysia are
the qualifying Asia Pacific events and, to qualify, drivers
have been under the age of 27 on 1 January 2008.
The successful drivers from
each year will then contest six full World Rally Championship
events the following season in a Super 2000 or Group N Car.
The scheme also provides the winning five drivers with funding
for personal development, fitness and safety programmes, all
underwritten by Pirelli, the official tyre supplier to the
FIA World Rally Championship.
During the 2008 and 2009 Pirelli
star driver competitions, ways to develop the scheme will
be considered with possible enhancements including the opportunity
for the most successful star driver to be offered a test drive
by a WRC team.
Competitors are also eligible
for financial assistance and it is recommend that you complete
your registration/application as soon as possible so a decision
can be made on your eligibility for financial assistance.
Close of registrations/applications
will be at the closing of entries for each of the qualifying
events, eg, Whangarei, Friday 16 May and Malaysia, Friday
19 September. There is no fee payable and no penalty should
you not continue with your intended programme. If there is
a remote possibility you could be interested in this, we recommend
you complete the registration/application form soon.
This is a fantastic opportunity
for any aspiring rally driver in our region and questions
on eligibility, logistics or anything else with regards to
the programme should be directed to Mr. Murray Brown e-mail
: murray.brown@xtra.co.nz
| Further details
for the Pirelli star driver contest in the Asia Pacific
region include: |
| • |
The qualifying
events in 2008 are Rally Whangarei and Rally Malaysia
and, in 2009, Rally Canberra and Rally Indonesia* (*subject
to travel advisories); |
| • |
Competitors must be under
the age of 27 on 1 January in the year of the regional
championship, i.e. 1 January 2008 for this year's Asia
Pacific qualifying events, and be permanent residents
of a country within the Asia or Pacific regions; |
| • |
Competitors from all countries
in the region will be eligible, regardless of registration
for the APRC; |
| • |
Competitors may use any
car that qualifies for the APRC; |
| • |
On each qualifying event,
eligible drivers will be awarded points for consistency
of speed. Three points will be awarded for each fastest
stage time, two points for second fastest and one point
for third fastest on each stage; |
| • |
On each qualifying event,
a separate classification for the Pirelli ‘star
driver' will be drawn from the general classification;
|
| • |
The first and second placed
eligible competitors from the Pacific event will receive
financial assistance to contest the qualifying Asia event,
i.e. the Pirelli ‘star driver' final; |
| • |
The overall eligible winner
of the Asia event will be named the Pirelli ‘star
driver' of the region and will contest six FIA World Rally
Championship events the following season. |
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