Young Driver: Start to the Challenge 2019 🎥
NEW AND TRUE On February 28, the starting signal was given for the 2019 "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge" at the kart track in Roggwil. The three best finalists will once again each win a race weekend with a Cupra TCR. The "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge" is on again. New for this year's preliminary round is that [...]
It's on again with the "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge".
New for this year's qualifying is that young people between the ages of 16 and 21 can qualify without restriction for two months at six kart tracks in Switzerland (Spreitenbach, Fimmelsberg, Roggwil, Payerne, Villeneuve and Locarno/Magadino) as well as in Feldkirch in Vorarlberg near the border (instead of Bonaduz). Theoretically, therefore, every day in March and April. In the end, only the fastest time counts. In addition, this is also possible at the Racing Fuel Academy in Horgen via Simracing. Registration takes place at the corresponding kart track.
Who follows Holdener and Apothéloz
The fastest five in each case will be invited to the national elimination at the open kart track in Wohlen on May 20 and 21 (one day each). From these 40 candidates, ten finalists will be determined to take part in the CUPRA Race Day at the Anneau du Rhin in Alsace on June 24.
The three best drivers at the wheel of a production-based Leon CUPRA and in a CUPRA TCR race touring car are each entitled to compete in one race weekend in the ADAC TCR Germany. The first on August 17/18 at the Nürburgring, the second on September 15/16 at Hockenheim and the third on September 28/29 at the Sachsenring.
The best of the best will be crowned overall winner, succeeding Oliver Holdener (2017) and Julien Apothéloz (2018). This comes with a sponsorship package worth 50,000 Swiss francs for the 2020 season.
Anticipation of the instructors
The youngsters are coached by racing professionals Nico Müller and Fredy Barth and introduced step by step to the adventure of being a car racing driver.
Fredy Barth: "With the unlimited possibility of qualifying for the selection in Wohlen, we want to appeal to even more young people and get them excited about it. That's why this can now also be done via simracing. Otherwise, we are sticking to the tried and tested. We are looking forward to even more and even better drivers."
CUPRA instead of SEAT
The first two editions of the Young Driver Challenges were still under the patronage of SEAT. The CUPRA brand entered the market in 2018. It was therefore obvious that the young driver program would now be supported by the new brand.
Nicolas Hobi, Head of Marketing at SEAT: "Since time immemorial, CUPRA, which stands for 'Cup Racer', has been the ultimate expression of sportiness at SEAT. That's why it makes sense for CUPRA to support the Challenge now that the brand is making its own independent appearance. So not only is the CUPRA TCR is a popular touring car in the customer sports sector, but the CUPRA road models have always been highly sought after in Switzerland."
The tire manufacturer Hankook as well as the association Auto Sport Schweiz could be won as new partners "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge".
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