HELPING YOUNG DRIVERS’ DESTINY

Dunlop and the Circuit Excel Racing Association have joined forces to help accelerate the development of the brightest young stars in the sport.

On January 22 the Dunlop Destiny Evaluation Day was held where Bradley James, Ashton Cattach, Tyler Collins, Ethan Grigg-Gault and Rio Campbell were given a deep insight into all facets of racing on and off the track at Norwell Motorplex.

To make the experience that much more memorable, current Supercars stars Brodie Kostecki and Broc Feeney were on hand, plus Bathurst winner Paul Morris and experienced son Nash, plus Ironman champion Guy Andrews.

Through the program the teenagers not only completed track sessions and shootouts, Andrews put their fitness to the test, replicating the strain bodies go through in the car by completing courses that include running 400m or 40 push ups or carrying tyres.

To provide an insight into the level of detail involved, participants were not only asked to stack the tyres, but make sure the Dunlop logo was upright and facing the right way.

In the end Collins was awarded the winner’s prize which us a fully funded drive in the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series round at The Bend.

But as CERA President John Broadbent explained, the program was far from deciding a winner, but making all five youngsters better drivers to be ready for the future through their elite coaching, mentoring and assessment at Norwell.

“It was everything we dreamed of to be brutally honest. The winner was not necessarily going to be the person who set the fastest lap in the shootout, but the one who was engaged and learned throughout the day,” Broadbent told Auto Action.

“It was not about the driving element, but it is the total package of being a driver outside the car from the way you treat officials, competitors and spectators.

“It could have been anyone of the five and it was just the subtle things Paul, Broc or Brodie had noticed.

“Credit has got to go to Bill McKenna and Paul at Norwell for wanted to do this and putting it all together. Paul sees the value in grassroots motorsport and fostering young kids.”

Broadbent said the program will carry on offering the same opportunities as next year it will be eligible to drivers from all five states and the end goal is to not only create a pathway from go-karts to Excels, 86s, Super2 and eventually Supercars, but make motorsport a realistic and economic goal for all.

“We will change the format slightly. It won’t be as much focused on the three Dunlop Destiny rounds and instead we will chose a competitor from every state

“It will go back to if the competitor does the right thing at their local state round and they will put their names forward at the end of the year.

“We are broadening it out a bit so it targets all of the competitors and provides more opportunities.

“There will also be wildcards where the state may be struggling to pick one or a driver does well in the nationals in August.

“Three quarters of the Toyota 86 field have all come from Excels so its the foundation of motorsport in this country and provides the opportunities to mum and dad who we are trying to target.

“At the end of the day if there are not these young competitors coming through categories like Excel, there is no future in motorsport.”

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