|
Young Waterford rally driver Craig Breen continued his historic week today by being selected for the prestigious FIA Institute Young Driver Academy. Less than a week after being crowned winner of the World Rally Championship Academy, Breen was competing in Austria for a place with 17 other of the world's best young drivers on the elite course for next year.
After several days of testing the selection process came to a head with a straight shootout between the drivers for the fastest in the group. Breen was impressive throughout and went on to win the speed shoot-out showing his world class potential.
The 21-year-old will now be coached 'in the car' by former Formula One race driver Alex Wurz and his team from Test and Training International, and 'out of the car' by former World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid and his team from Elite Sports Performance.
Over the next year, the 18 drivers will attend a series of workshops covering all aspects of driver performance and safety. The driving elements of the course include the development of technical skills, safety training, attitudes and awareness. The human performance aspect will feature physiology, psychology, nutrition, media skills and career management.
The primary goals of the Academy are: to prepare young drivers to compete at the pinnacle of the sport, to increase skills in the area of driver and road safety; and to actively promote the principles of safety, fairness and responsibility both on and off the track.
Joe Corcoran, President of Motorsport Ireland, was first to congratulate Craig on his achievement; "This has been a huge week for Craig Breen, his family and for the future of Irish motorsport. Craig has shown that we have some of the best motorsport drivers in the world and from his progress this week he is a future world champion in the sport.
|