Sports lawyer launches Young Racing Driver Academy

Potential F1 stars of the future braved the elements at Silverstone last Thursday for the launch of an Arden-backed motorsport academy that is focussed on mentoring, managing and marketing the cream of Britain’s emerging motorsport talent.

The Young Racing Driver Academy (YRDA), is a partnership between The Business of Sport, leading motorsport team Arden International and sports law firm 7 Legal.

YRDA welcomed Ross Gunn, Connor Mills, Danny Keirle, Jack Partridge, Jake Walker, Alex Forward, Dan Baybutt, Sandy Mitchell, Tom Wood and Owen Marlow to its ranks at the Silverstone GP3 Test, where the young racers also had their first glimpse of the new GP3 cars in action. Fellow YRDA recruit, Dan Ticktum, was unable to make the launch due to his current European Karting campaign.

YRDA is the first of several academies to be launched by sports management and consultancy specialists, The Business of Sport, and will deliver a dedicated programme designed to maximise the young drivers’ on-track and off-track potential and provide them with the necessary skills and support to help them make a successful transition from karting into single-seater racing.

By identifying the most promising young talent and providing opportunities for those drivers to develop the necessary range of skills, level of confidence and knowledge to fully prepare them to successfully compete at the highest level of motorsport, YRDA is providing a pathway that will hopefully enable more Young British drivers to rise through the ranks and compete at the highest level of motorsport.

Jamie Horner, CEO of The Business of Sport: “We were delighted to have launched the Young Racing Driver Academy at Silverstone – the home of British motorsport. The Business of Sport, 7 Legal, Arden and their programme partners are excited to be working with these outstanding young drivers on their journey through karting and on to single-seater racing.”

Garry Horner, Team Principal, Arden International: “Arden is pleased to support the next generation of Young British Drivers on their journey to the higher echelons of motorsport, hopefully progressing into the Arden team.”