The British Racing Drivers Club has kicked off a fourth year of its SuperStars programme with the announcement of 13 drivers that will benefit from its support in 2011.
The scheme, which selects the country’s brightest driving prospects in open-wheel, prototype and production disciplines for training and support, aims to ensure the continued success of British drivers in all areas of international motorsport.
Among this year’s SuperStars are GP2 Series pilot Sam Bird, and GP3 contenders Alexander Sims and James Calado – as well as current BRDC McLaren Autosport Award winner Lewis Williamson.
Other open-wheel drivers included are Formula Renault UK’s Alex Lynn and Oliver Rowland as well as 2010 competitor Tom Blomqvist, British F3 International’s Jack Harvey, and Oli Webb who finished third in that series last year.
Last year’s F2 champion and Williams test drive recipient Dean Stoneman, who is sitting out the year due to serious health problems that have scuppered his planned Formula Renault 3.5 drive, is also on the list.
Prototype competitor Andy Meyrick, who drives in the American Le Mans Series, joins the BTCC’s Alex MacDowell and Porsche Supercup’s Nick Tandy. A 14th driver is set to be announced in due course.
Programme director Tim Harvey said of the announcement: “We always find it hard to make the final decision but after careful consideration we feel we have a very talented bunch of drivers who we look forward to working with this year.”
Alexander Sims, embarking on his third year of BRDC driver development, said: “The BRDC is among the world’s most prestigious motorsports clubs and I am very pleased to have had their support and backing through being part of their programmes since 2008.
“I have been involved in a number of their events and workshops in the past and have found them extremely useful so I am looking forward to continuing this and spending time with the rest of the BRDC SuperStars.”
The first SuperStars event saw the drivers travel to RAF Cranwell In Lincolnshire for a day of Fighter Pilot Aptitude Training. RAF Cranwell is the oldest Air Force College in the world and the Royal Air Force’s most prestigious training unit.