In association with its longtime partner, ART Grand Prix, the watch brand Richard Mille is going to launch its young driver academy, with the winner gaining access to the French F4 Championship.<\/p>\n
Moreover, she has established a partnership for many years with Nicolas Todt, his driver management structure All Road Management, and ART Grand Prix. The French team has greatly diversified in recent years, especially in karting. It manufactures its own karts through its joint venture Birel ART. This structure also manufactures the karts for the brands of Robert Kubica and Daniel Ricciardo.<\/p>\n
Richard Mille has thus decided to facilitate the transition from karting to single-seaters by creating his academy for young drivers, as he explains: “I am a true sports enthusiast. There is a strong synergy between the watches we make and motor racing. I am delighted that our company has the opportunity to play an active role in the emergence of young talents alongside Birel ART.”<\/p>\n
It is thus planned that the various importers of the Birel ART brand around the world will each select a young driver at the end of the season to offer them the opportunity to try an F4 for free at the Paul Ricard circuit for a two-day evaluation session.<\/p>\n
Ronni Sala, President of Birel ART, commented on this unprecedented initiative: \u00ab It seemed crucial to us to offer our drivers a real bridge between karting and single-seaters. We now have the opportunity to do so uniquely worldwide thanks to our entire network within the Birel ART group. It was important for us to open this operation to all Birel ART drivers, regardless of budget. While the idea is very simple, it is also revolutionary in its implementation. Everything will be done to open the doors of single-seaters to the best prospects. \u00bb<\/p>\n
Among this group of around twenty selected drivers, the best among them will have the chance to win a season in the French F4 Championship, which is the first step in the single-seater ladder. Many drivers make their debut here, starting with Stoffel Vandoorne or Jean-Eric Vergne.<\/p>\n