Pirelli Star Driver

[Maui J.]

The first qualifing round of the Asia-Pacific Pirelli Star Driver has just been held in NZ. The top two scorers at APRC Rally Whangerei, Hayden Paddon and Brad Ayling, each won a 5000 Euro assistance package to get them to Rally Malaysia in October. This will be the winner take all finale.

The Asia-Pacific winner will join a Middle Eastern, an African and 2 European drivers in six fully funded PWRC championship rounds next year in either a Group N or S2000 car.

Wondering from other forumers what are your regional events for Pirelli Star and what drivers are expected to be the front runners.

Also wondering from an Asia-Pacific perspective what drivers from your country are expected at Rally Malaysia.
Australia, Japan, China, Malaysia, India etc must have a lot of potential young drivers keen to clinch this amazing prize. Paddon and Ayling will possibly be joined by Mark Tapper also from NZ. Tapper was a front runner at Whangarei but missed out on one of the top two spots due to some mechanical issues during the rally.

[Leon]

Living in Cyprus I can give a bit of info about the Pirelli Star Driver competition regarding Middle East.

Three drivers are participating from this area, Nicos Thoma, Nick Georgiou and another Middle Eastern driver whom I cannot recall his name now.

Nicos Thoma from Cyprus is the island´s latest hope having almost all the ingredients for success. At only 20 years of age he is the overall winner of the recent Cyprus Rally (and subsequently the Pirelli Star Driver winner), which is a record for his age. He is spectacular although a very «down to earth» person, not making mistakes, he has the money and a strong team to support him plus his father/manager used to be a local champion so he can use all his experience. Also in the latest MERC round at Syria, his first ever desert rally, he was a sensational third overall finishing 5th due to a co-driver mistake but most important he was again the Pirelli Star Driver winner. In our small country/island we expect great things from him. His only negative is inexperience from fast rallies, as you all know about Cyprus kind of roads. However the signs are good since he won the only fast event to be held in Cyprus plus he fared well at Syrian desert.

Nick Georgiou is a London-based Lebanese driver with Greek roots. The only thing I Know about him is that his father Tony Georgiou had one of the most famous accidents in the Middle East during the group B area with his NISSAN 240 RS that can be found on a number of crash videos and of course at youtube.

[Mirek]

I don't know the condition in Europe at all. If someone knows more, please, tell me.

[Viking]

"Two competitors will be selected from the European region after a three-day ‘shoot-out’."


FIA Press release:

Pirelli ‘Star Driver’ 10/04/2008

In accordance with its agreement with Pirelli, the Italian tyre manufacturer designated by the FIA as the official tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship, the World Motor Sport Council has ratified the proposal presented by the World Rally Championship Commission for the investment of funding in international rallying.


The intent is to invest in the growth of the sport worldwide and, in particular, help younger competitors reach World Championship level.



The Pirelli ‘Star Driver’ scheme is a worldwide search for five young rally drivers from the 2008 and 2009 FIA Regional Championships. The successful drivers from each year will then contest a series of six World Championship rallies the following season, driving identical Group N or Super 2000 cars supplied and serviced under an FIA contract with a specialist preparation company. The competitors must be under the age of 27 on 1st January in the year of the Regional Championship.



The programme will be structured through the four FIA Regional Championships, with one driver emerging from each of the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa regions. Two competitors will be selected from the European region after a three-day ‘shoot-out’. It is also hoped to expand the programme into South America in 2009.

The FIA regions, working with all their National Sporting Authorities (ASNs), will be provided with development assistance to promote their Regional Championship and help competitors contest their events. The project will also provide funding for personal development, fitness and safety programmes, as well as additional promotional opportunities.



During 2008 and 2009, ways in which to develop the scheme - including the opportunity for the most successful Star Driver to be offered a test drive by a registered WRC team - will be studied.

[Mirek]

Here are the European rulles
http://www.rally-erc.com/article.php?cont=197

[Viking]

Sveinung Bieltvedt (22) is Norway’s entrant in the European shootout.

He is currently 2`nd in the Norwegian N4 championship driving a Subaru.

Who else will be there?

[Mirek]

Michal Kosciuszko from Poland. Keith Cronin from Ireland I think.

[WRC1]

the austrian representant will be andreas aigner!!!!!!!!!!

reg

wrc1

[Mirek]

What a useless choice. The same as in Poland and maybe in our country. This project should help young drivers to start their career. Aigner, Kosciuszko or Prokop are not the ones to choose. They have both experience and good team.

By the way how is it possible that Austria has a candidate? I thought candidates come from countries which has WRC or ERC event. Is it because Austria is the place where final shotout will be?

[urabus-denoS2000]

]I thought candidates come from countries which has WRC or ERC event

Croatia?


It is useless.Just as BF Goodrich gave their car to a up and coming young man called Patrick Snijers...