Young Driver Project: Kilian Boss is the winner
A SUCCESSFUL FOLLOWER The winner of this year's Young Drivers Project is Kilian Boss. He will receive prize money of CHF 30,000 linked to a program in Swiss motor racing.
The decision has been made: Kilian Boss has won Auto Sport Switzerland's Young Drivers Project 2023. The 17-year-old from Amsoldingen in the canton of Bern was crowned the winner at the "Dîner des Champions" at the Hotel Bellevue in Bern. Kai Perner (16 from Vinelz in the canton of Bern) came second and Timéo Ruppen (15 from Fétigny in the canton of Fribourg) came third.
Training as an automation technician
This season, Boss took third place in the X30 Challenge Switzerland category of the autobau Swiss Kart Championship. At the same time, he secured the X30 title in the VEGA Trofeo. Boss, who is completing an apprenticeship as an automation technician, not only impressed the jury - consisting of Swiss racing drivers and the Jenzer Motorsport team - but also successfully asserted himself in the internal ranking of Auto Sport Switzerland.
First successes in the championship
Boss made his first attempts at driving in 2011 on the karting track in Muntelier. The following year, the Kimi Raikkonen fan took part in his first race. In 2017, he contested his first season in the Minis as part of the VEGA Trofeo and finished fifth. In 2018, he finished sixth in the Superminis, one category higher, and fourth the following year. In 2020, Kilu switched to the X30s. He then completed his first race there in 2021 as part of the autobau Swiss Kart Championship. Boss finished third on the podium in just the third race. In 2022, he improved again and finished the season in a respectable third place - ahead of that year's champion Alessio Strollo.
Boss finished third again this season. After two rather mixed races in Italy, Boss drove away from the competition in the two races in France and secured six race wins in a row. He even achieved a Grand Slam at the race in Mirecourt (pole position, fastest race lap and three race wins in one weekend).
Sister Saskia also races
Kilian inherited his racing genes from his father Beat Boss, who raced uphill himself and prepares Kilian's kart with the support of Spirit Racing. In addition to Kilian, his sister Saskia, who is three years older, also races karts in the Boss family. Like Kilian, she is also a fan of the X30 Challenge Switzerland.
Tests in various workshops
About the Young Drivers project: Auto Sport Switzerland's young driver development program was held three times between 2013 and 2015. The winners at the time were Alain Valente (2013), Lucas Mauron (2014) and Fabio Scherer (2015). The YDP was reactivated for this season. Kart drivers born between 2006 and 2008 were able to take part and were given physical, media and driving support in various workshops during the season. The winner, in this case Kilian Boss, receives prize money of 30,000 Swiss francs. This money is linked to a motor racing championship - ideally a Formula 4 championship with the Jenzer Motorsport team.
Program for the 2024 season is set
In order to guarantee sustainable promotion, the Swiss Auto Sport Association has set itself the goal of firmly establishing the YDP in the coming years. The program for the 2024 season has already been determined and will be published before Christmas. Registrations for the 2024 season (for drivers born between 2007 and 2009) will be accepted from January.
Photos: Eichenberger, Zaug
Source: Auto Sport Switzerland
