- ARDC Race Academy to provide local pathways for rising motorsport talent across various motorsport genres.
- Innovative Two-day Formula Pathway program designed to equip talented young karters with the skills to transition into the world of professional Formula 4 open-wheel racing.
- Training and development provided by leading race teams and performance coaches.
(Sydney) The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC), the country’s largest and oldest drivers’ club, has announced the foundation of a unique, industry-led Racing Academy to support the next generation of elite motorsport champions. Commencing with Formula Pathway, a uniquely-curated Karts-to-Formula 4 program, the ARDC Race Academy will look to expand into other areas such as Touring Cars and motorbikes in the future.
The recent creation of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct (AMIP) has provided the ARDC with a unique point of ignition – its own green flag - to establish unique collaborations with its expert AMIP partners. The ARDC Race Academy’s Formula Pathway program has been co-developed by Adam Gotch at AGI Sport and his Formula 4 team, and Oliver Myers from Focus Driver Performance.
Like motorsport itself, success lies in the synergies of teamwork, with each stakeholder injecting their individual skills, techniques and passion to drive success.
The ARDC Race Academy Formula Pathway program is a unique two-day program especially designed to assist emerging racing drivers progress from top-tier karting to the rigors of adrenaline-charged Formula 4 racing, and hopefully beyond.
With the re-introduction of the Australian Formula 4 Championship (with the exact same vehicle as used in Europe), the aim is to keep the best Australian and New Zealand talent within the local championship before potentially heading to Europe or the US to compete on the world stage.
The appeal to young male and female talent and their families is obvious: racing cadets can spend a formative season in Australia racing locally and be back home on a Sunday night to continue schooling on a Monday.
Unlike a typical ‘come and try’-style event, the Formula Pathway program expertly delivered by AGI Sport and Focus Driver Performance has been uniquely crafted as an intensive two-day hands-on classroom and circuit course, to better prepare drivers for what lies ahead.
The Formula Pathway program will allow State and National level karters to experience a Formula 4 vehicle for the first time at Sydney Motorsport Park. The course is suitable for experienced top-level karters aged from 14 years to 18 years of age, with the first course to be held in July 2024.
Glenn Matthews, CEO of the ARDC, was pleased to be launching such a vital program to the motorsport industry, in partnership with motorsport luminaries.
“Both AGI Sport and Focus Driver Performance have established their permanent bases here at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct (AMIP), which was officially launched in August 2023,” said Matthews.
“When we first planned for the AMIP back in 2017, it was very much a goal of the ARDC to attract the best of the best in race and team development, precision engineering and technology, motorsport safety, mobility studies, education and skills development, sustainability within in motorsport and allied industry business development.
“Karting has always been the breeding ground for future open-wheeler champions, and Formula Pathway is an amazing opportunity for up-and-coming drivers to test their skills and learn from the very best, with some of the latest technologies and Formula 4 vehicles in the country, right here at Sydney Motorsport Park – Australia’s home of Motorsport.”
While identifying and nurturing the next generation of podium-level drivers and riders is forefront for the Formula Pathway program, the Academy itself will further look to embrace all facets of motorsport careers including mechanical and engineering, team support, data specialists and officials in future activities.
The first cohort of ARDC Academy cadets will complete the two-day Formula Pathway program at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 4.
Note to editors: interviews with Glenn Matthews, Adam Gotch and/or Oliver Myers are available on request.
For more information, please contact
Peter Larum
Chief Marketing Officer - ARDC
E: peter@ardc.com.au
M: + 61 419 732 029
Kurt McGuiness
PRIMAL Storytelling
E: kurt@weareprimal.com.au
M: +61 413 135 334
ENDS
About the ARDC
Since 1952 the ARDC has been the premiere automotive racing body hosting high profile motorsport events across NSW (most notably Mount Panorama Bathurst from’63–’98) as well as managing many of NSW’s leading motorsport circuits including Amaroo, and since 1996 Australia’s Home of Motorsport, Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) at Eastern Creek, Sydney.
The ARDC vision is to create a global leading venue for motorsport competitors and enthusiasts and to become the central home for motorsport in Australia. SMSP is a multipurpose venue that hosts more than 350,000 visitors per annum via 600+ events including the SUPERCARS Championships, World Time Attack, Shannons Nationals, NSW Motor Race Championships and multiple grassroots car and bike racing and experiences, auto manufacturer days including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes plus brand launches, community events, festivals and more.
SMSP is a New South Wales Government venue. ARDC is a not-for-profit entity with 3,800+ members.
For further information: www.ardc.com.au www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au www.amip.smsp.com.au
About Adam Gotch and AGI Sport
Adam Gotch has enjoyed a long and diverse 30-year career in professional motorsport including lengthy stints in Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 1. Adam has worked with some of the most talented drivers in the world over the last 20+ years including Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe, Liam Lawson, Marcus Ambrose, Will Davidson, Will Brown, Broc Feeney and many more.
About Oliver Myers and Focus Driver Performance
Focus Driver Performance aims to prepare drivers for global success by integrating all aspects of human performance into motorsport. Established in 2016, Focus operates Australia's first and only complete Driver Performance Centre at Sydney Motorsport Park and has recently opened a second operation at Queensland Raceway.
As a former racer, Director Oliver Myers knows just what it takes to perform on the world stage, utilising and teaching those skills is a passion of his whilst finding like-minded successful coaches to employ the same approach when working with drivers.