The Aston Martin Racing Drivers’ Academy returns in 2022 as the British ultra-luxury sports car manufacturer continues its quest to discover the next generation of GT endurance superstars.

This successful initiative is designed to accelerate talent within Aston Martin Racing’s thriving network of associated teams and is a way for AMR to contribute to motorsport by investing in and developing future talent. The popular program has a high success rate and is proud to have promoted the racing of a number of rising GT stars, including IMSA Sprint Cup Champion Ross Gunn (GBR), British GT4 Champion Tom Canning ( GBR), recently signed factory rider Valentin Hasse. -Clot (FRA) and the 2021 winner Roman De Angelis (CDN). This year, no less than 22 candidates registered to participate in a variety of championships around the world.

A unique and unrivaled learning and development platform with an established builder, this essential initiative is refined and enhanced each year to effectively train early career drivers. Competitors between the ages of 17 and 26 with Vantage GT3 and GT4 racing programs in recognized championships are eligible. The award offered to the successful graduate includes financial support for their 2023 racing program, as well as factory support and guidance, tailored to their season plans.

As always, contestants are judged on a wide range of criteria, including pace, consistency of performance and technical feedback. Candidates also underwent a series of intensive seminars including media and public relations training, simulator training and a full fitness assessment before the start of the season.

The judging panel, which includes AMR Managing Director John Gaw, three-time Le Mans 24 Hours class winner Darren Turner (GB), former winner Hasse-Clot, AMR Performance Chief Gus Beteli and Chief of AMR Partner Racing Huw Tasker, also assesses each driver’s ability to manage the strategic, teamwork, commercial and public relations aspects of their role. Finally, the outstanding candidate will demonstrate the greatest potential for developing their talent for the future.

Reigning IMSA Sprint Cup champion and Petit Le Mans GTD class race winner De Angelis came out first in class at the 2021 AMR Driver Academy. The 21-year-old Canadian, following in the recent footsteps of Hasse -Clot, a Beechdean AMR GTWC Europe Endurance Cup racer, continues with The Heart of Racing team in the GTD class of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in 2022.

Huw Tasker, Director of AMR Partner Racing, said: “The Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy is a great tool to assess the level of talent within our partner ranks and is the perfect way for the brand to give back to the sport of constructive and meaningful way. road. As our past winners have shown, and I’m sure Roman will too, this initiative is of enormous value to us, to the riders involved and to the sport in general. We look forward to continuing this tradition as we seek to support our partners in GT racing around the world.”

CANDIDATES FOR THE 2022 ASTON MARTIN RACING DRIVER ACADEMY