Page 3 - Motorsport News (January 2020)

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HEADLINE NEWS

FIA LAUNCHES SCHEME

TO UNEARTH NEXT

RALLYING TALENTS

Governing body uses games and simulators as it seeks the new wave

Photos: mcklein-imagedatabase.com

The top WRC seats are
all taken by Europeans

motorkhanabecauseinEngland computer games. I’m waiting continental finals. But we have
we understand that gymkhana for their proposals. Basically, we at least one girl.
has something to do with horses. told them we wanted to be able to “These drivers will then go
Essentially it’s a set of cones laid change the parameters in the game forward for a year of development,
out for the drivers to go as quickly – we want to make sure we’re testing and coaching. In this year
as possible around. But, you know, selecting the good driver and not they will participate in between
from that first sampling of drivers necessarily the good gamer. For six and eight regional and national
all it took was 20 seconds for us to this we can change some of the rallies in Europe. The best three
understand which drivers would coding and alter the weather in the then go forward to a two-year
be good enough to go forward. one of the stages so we can see how programme in the Junior World
That’s what we’re going to do.” they are adapting to conditions.” Rally Championship. If one of
The FIA is developing a The FIA’s plans involve a virtual the drivers wins the JWRC then
Rally Star toolkit for distribution qualification event which can be we will provide them with a
to national motorsporting entered on two levels. People can WRC 3 drive for the year after.”
authorities across the globe. either enter it from their bedroom Initial funding for the scheme
“We have 140 ASNs [national where they play the game, or comes from the FIA fund for
governing bodies],” said Roussel. they can go to an organised innovation, but the FIA is
“And 51 of them run international simulator event in, for example, chasing further partnerships
rallies. What we’re building is the a shopping centre. and investment to make Rally
toolkit which will show the local Roussel added: “We want to Star sustainable.
governing bodies how to run a appeal to all cultures around the Pirelli, the WRC’s single-tyre
Rallye Jeunes-style selection world and we know in Asia, the supplier from next season, is likely
process. It will instruct the ASNs digital culture is really stronger to be involved in what is emerging The talent search winner will get a full season in the Junior World Rally Championship
in how to set out the competition, than it is in Europe. Attracting as a modern-day equivalent to the
how to run it if you have this much drivers from all around the world Pirelli Star Driver programme,
space or how to do it if you only is so important in this project. a scheme which current world
have a limited area. It explains how “As the WRC develops and champion Tanak was part of in 2010.
many marshals you need and how becomes more global, it’s FIA rally director Yves Matton
to run the timekeeping side of the interesting to note that we have said: “We have looked at Rallye
event. It’s very simple and a very 15 European drivers at the top Jeunes and Pirelli Star Driver and
quick way to sample the first level. We need to find the drivers what is new in the motorsport
round of the potential drivers. from outside of Europe.” world. We have a mix of these
“It’s vital to make a big sample Beyond the first round, the things; we link them to the
and get as many young men and ASNs will be required to select current generation and give them
ladies in as possible – the bigger their finalists to forward to one of global relevance. The selection
sample, the more chance we have six continental finals in Europe, must be different if we’re going
of finding the really good one.” the Middle East and North Africa, to Africa, Europe or Asia and this
As well as the motorkhana Africa, Asia Pacific, North is what we do – we make it more
event, the digital entry aspect is America and South America. straightforward. This is exciting,
aimed at setting the barrier to “We will take the winning six it’s the first time the FIA has had
entry as low as possible. drivers from those finals,” Roussel a proper global talent programme.
Roussel explained: “We are said. “We will take one lady driver We introduce this to the ASNs in
working with Codemasters and as well. That is, of course, not to June and then work towards the
Bigben on the DiRT and WRC 8 say the ladies won’t be winning the first intake as soon as possible.” Future title winner Sebastien Loeb, here in 2001, began his career with a governing body leg-up

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