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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