Red Bull Driver Search announces 2004 format.
For the third consecutive year, the Red Bull Driver Search programme is continuing its pursuit to directly address the lack of American presence at the pinnacle of motor racing.
The mission is both to discover the 'diamond in the rough', lacking the knowledge and contacts needed to embark on a career in racing, and to scout promising young racers with great potential and limited funding. The long term goal of the programme is to have a steady group of three to six American drivers in Europe groomed to break into Formula One and, ultimately, compete for the World Championship.
For the third consecutive year, the Red Bull Driver Search programme is continuing its pursuit to directly address the lack of American presence at the pinnacle of motor racing.
The mission is both to discover the 'diamond in the rough', lacking the knowledge and contacts needed to embark on a career in racing, and to scout promising young racers with great potential and limited funding. The long term goal of the programme is to have a steady group of three to six American drivers in Europe groomed to break into Formula One and, ultimately, compete for the World Championship.
Although the programme has yet to push a driver beyond the heights of Paul Edwards' foray into the Nissan World Series, three more names have been added to the European roster for 2004, with a fourth racing in the United States in order to build his experience.
Danny Sullivan, head of the Red Bull Driver Search programme, announced the four American members of the Red Bull Junior Team late last season, revealing that Dominique Claessens (JD Motorsports), Colin Fleming (Jenzer Motorsports) and Scott Speed (Motopark) would all be contesting Formula Renault's Eurocup this season.
Back in USA, meanwhile, the first stage of the 2004 programme has now been put in place, with the confirmation of the format that will hopefully unearth the next batch of American talent.
Some 57 indoor and outdoor kart facilities nationwide will play host to 'Open Qualifying' sessions between 15 March and 13 June. Drivers aged between 13 and 17 years of age, both male and female are able to compete at this stage, looking for selection for the 'Run Offs', which will comprise 300 qualifiers who excel in the 'Open Qualifying'. The 'Run Off' phase will be contested in 125cc karts at two outdoor go-kart facilities in August.
While the 'Open Qualifying' is taking place, undercover scouts will be scouring the ranks of the US junior racing formulae in search of talented young drivers, who will then be invited to attend the 'Semi Final' stage of the competition.
There, the karters selected from the 'Run Offs', and the scouted drivers will go head-to-head for a place in the 'Final', where up to eight drivers will travel to an undisclosed circuit in Europe for final assessment.
