A real federal reservoir of French car racing, Programme 10-15 and Equipes de France FFSA Karting and Circuit provide a framework and a support of the utmost importance to the burgeoning of new talents. The arrival this year of three French drivers in F1, Charles Pic, Romain Grosjean and Jean-Eric Vergne, has put French Teams even more under the spotlight.
Scouting and selection in Programme 10-15
Promising drivers aged between 10 and 15 years are invited to join initially Programme 10-15 of FFSA in function of the potential shown in national races. The various FFSA activities enable to work on mere driving techniques as well as on physical and mental training and on communication skills.
Equipe de France FFSA Karting : developing the potential in international races
The passage to Equipe de France Karting is reserved to those drivers, often coming from Programme 10-15, who have already proven their abilities and who race at international levels. During the training sessions, team members improve their physical condition, their knowledge of technical English and their behaviour with the Press. On the circuits, drivers are supported by a FFSA top level pole leader and by a kinesitherapist.
Mid-term objectives
Equipe de France Karting 2012 gathers young drivers in full ascent, three already selected drivers Pascal Belmaaziz, Anthoine Hubert and Erwan Julé, and five newcomers from Programme 10-15, Gabriel Aubry, Paolo Besancenez, Dorian Boccolacci, Valentin Moineault and Valentin Naud. It is a matter of dreaming to win international titles in karting as well as of training future professional drivers able to defend the colours of France in car racing.
On the road to F1 with Equipe de France FFSA Circuit
On a higher level, a fair number of former kart drivers have passed to the single-seaters. The F4 French championship of Auto Sport Academy is often their first step into car racing. After that, FFSA takes them up to the top, as far as possible.
Start of season training session in Chamonix
Most often, young kartmen are already drivers, but not yet sportsmen. A training session like this is first of all a nice experience. Its main aim is building the awareness that a driver’s skills cannot show in a race unless his physical and mental conditions follow suit. The location of Chamonix offers top level sports and medical facilities and a setting that is used to high standards. In addition to pure mountain air, the range of activities available at the foot of Mont Blanc is wide. Morning running is inescapable, but the trainees have also had the pleasure of experiencing hiking with snowshoes, cross-country skiing and sealskin, as well as a number of indoor exercises.
Thanks to its ideal scheduling just before the beginning of the sports season, this training session gives them a healthy drive, the effects of which can still be seen in their first races. The eight drivers of Equipe de France FFSA Karting have played the game thoroughly without complaining and they can now enjoy a well deserved rest before entering season 2012.
Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP