BRDC Stars of Tomorrow has officially announced that it is to run a KF2 class in 2009 – and not only that, but the series that first put current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton on the fast track to superstardom has joined forces with Formula Palmer Audi to set another promising young driver in the McLaren-Mercedes ace’s slipstream.
KF2 will bridge the gap between KF3 and the premier gearbox KZ1 class in Stars’ portfolio, and it is a new venture that has clearly attracted great enthusiasm from all concerned.
“We’re very pleased to have been awarded full championship status,” enthused Stars’ director Carolynn Hoy. “It will be the first time we have run KF2. Traditionally we have always been a ‘junior’ championship, but three years ago we decided to run KZ1, and we really enjoyed having a slightly older group around – I think it gives a bit of stability to the championship.
“KF2 is the natural progression from KF3, and the interest has been extraordinary – we are expecting to have a full grid of 28 karts. We will certainly be pushing hard to achieve that.”
Hoy went on to explain that as an added incentive, the winners of all nine rounds on the calendar will be invited to Formula Palmer Audi’s Bedford Autodrome headquarters at the end of the season, where they will be entered into a shoot-out for a fully paid-for drive in the 2009/10 FPA Autumn Trophy.
The overall winner will be able to choose between the scholarship seat or the equivalent £10,000 to put towards testing and/or a full summer campaign in 2010. To be eligible for the shoot-out – which will evaluate candidates’ track, media and fitness skills – drivers will need to compete in at least seven of the nine rounds on the 2009 Stars schedule.
“It’s a truly wonderful prize,” underlined Hoy. “I would describe Formula Palmer Audi as single-seaters with someone holding your hand. It’s a great stepping-stone from karts into cars.
“It’s fantastic to finally realise a championship ambition of having a scholarship deal with a top single-seater series like FPA. Our focus at Stars of Tomorrow has always been on the drivers and their future, and we hope that this partnership can help discover and develop the next young star of British racing.”
Just as Stars’ launched Hamilton’s motorsport career off the starting grid more than a decade ago, FPA has similarly nurtured talents such as triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx, 2006 and 2007 Champ Car World Series Vice-Champion Justin Wilson, former DTM Champion Gary Paffett and Irish A1GP front-runner Adam Carroll over the course of its ten-year history to-date.
“The scholarship deal represents a significant partnership between top-level karting and single-seater car racing,” remarked Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of FPA organiser MotorSport Vision.
“With FPA offering its 2009 champion a scholarship prize towards the FIA Formula Two Championship, and with the F2 Champion being awarded a test drive with Williams F1, the collaboration between FPA and Stars of Tomorrow establishes a clear and cost-effective path for young drivers wishing to progress from karting all the way to Formula 1.”
Info BRDC – Russell Atkins / © Photos Chris Walker