FOUR NEW DRIVERS BECOME BRDC SUPERSTARS

Callum IIott, Seb Morris, Ashley Sutton and Lando Norris will all join the BRDC SuperStars roster for 2017 as the successful young driver support programme enters its 10th year.

The British Racing Drivers' Club founded the programme in 2008 under the auspices of then BRDC President Damon Hill OBE and programme director Tim Harvey. Over 60 drivers have since benefited from the guidance the BRDC SuperStars scheme has to offer. Graduates include Formula One drivers Jolyon Palmer, Max Chilton and Will Stevens as well as British GT champion Jonny Adam and 2013 British Touring Car champion Andrew Jordan. Numerous others are now enjoying professional careers as factory-backed drivers.

For 2017, Prema Powerteam FIA European Formula 3 racer Callum Ilott joins the line-up alongside Ashley Sutton, Seb Morris and the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, Lando Norris. Lando will also be racing in European F3 with Carlin, Ashley Sutton will contest the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with Team BMR Subaru, while Seb Morris will return to British GT in the Bentley Continental GT3 run by Team Parker Racing.

Current SuperStar Oliver Rowland will again race in the GP2 Series, moving to the crack DAMS team. Alex Albon steps up to join him in GP2, while recently confirmed Mercedes junior driver George Russell moves into the GP3 Series. 2016 GP3 race winner Jake Hughes moves in the opposite direction and will contest the European F3 championship with Hitech GP and Will Palmer returns to the Formula Renault Eurocup with R-ace.

Double champion Daniel Cammish will go for a historic third title in a row in Porsche Carrera Cup GB as well as making his full season debut in the international Porsche Supercup series. Aston Martin racer Ross Gunn will turn his hand to the European Le Mans Series with Beechdean and Jack Goff returns to the BTCC, moving to Eurotech to race a Honda Civic.

The 12 hand-picked SuperStars are:

All the SuperStars will benefit from the range of advice the programme has to offer to enhance their physical and mental fitness. Workshops and training events will also be run to enhance their communication, media and marketing skills to cover every aspect of professional racing driver development.

The unique element of the programme, and also the most invaluable, is the unprecedented access the SuperStars will have to the Members of the BRDC for advice and guidance. Former Touring Car, British GT and Porsche champion Tim Harvey is on hand to counsel the drivers in his role as director of the SuperStars programme, which he dovetails with his responsibilities as ITV BTCC commentator. Alexander Sims will also continue as BRDC SuperStars ambassador alongside his BMW factory drive.

Seb Morris – British GT with Team Parker Racing

“It’s been a long journey to get to where I am and I've worked hard to get the drive this year. To have the phone call from Tim before Daytona telling me I was going to be joining the SuperStars scheme gave me extra confidence going into the race. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the access the programme gives me and will be calling Tim. I’m at the time in my career where I’m getting opportunities coming my way so I can benefit from the expertise and experience of the BRDC Members as they’ve already been there so I can learn from them.”

Callum Ilott – European F3 with Prema Powerteam

“Having been on the Rising Stars programme for a year the SuperStars is where I wanted to be and I feel like it’s my time to step up. You get more contact with the BRDC and you can build relationships so you always have someone you can turn to when you need assistance. Being one of the 12 SuperStars makes it easier to get access so I am really grateful.”

Ashley Sutton – British Touring Car Championship with Team BMR Subaru

“Getting picked was a big thing for me. I was selected to become a Rising Star in 2014 so the goal was to step up to being a SuperStar. We put some work in to tick the boxes so I could move up so it’s great to be a part of the programme. The networking and connections available now are fantastic and there are certain people that could be a big support in my future career.”

Lando Norris – European F3 with Carlin

“Most of all it’s an honour to be part of something with such a great history. The Members of the BRDC are all drivers that I have looked up to in the past; they are drivers people always talk about. To be accepted and to be seen as the best of the best is an honour.”

For further information please contact:
 
Thomas Baker - Torque
+44 (0) 7974 779657
Thomas@torquetogether.com
 
Tim Harvey - Director, BRDC SuperStars                             
M: +44 (0) 7876 766383
Tim.Harvey@brdc.co.uk