De KNAF is trots te melden dat de twee Nederlandse afvaardigingen naar het selectie evenement van het FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy beide uitgekozen zijn voor het vervolgprogramma. Kevin Abbring en Robin Frijns behoren daarmee tot het selecte gezelschap van 12 talenten wereldwijd dat geselecteerd is. Zie onderstaand het persbericht van het FIA Institute:

Drivers Chosen for FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy

Following an exceptionally high level of performance demonstrated by all participants in the Selection Event, 12 drivers have been chosen for the first FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

The 12 drivers are (in alphabetical order):

Kevin Abbring (21, Netherlands)
Paul-Loup Chatin (19, France);
Albert Costa (20, Spain)
Alon Day (19, Israel)
Philipp Eng (20, Austria)
Robin Frijns (19, Netherlands)
Timmy Hansen (18, Sweden)
Egon Kaur (23, Estonia)
Andreas Mikkelsen (21, Norway)
Alexander Rossi (19, US)
Richie Stanaway (19, New Zealand)
Stoffel Vandoorne (18, Belgium)

They will now be coached in the car by former Formula One race driver Alex Wurz and his company Test and Training International, and out of the car by former World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid and his company Elite Sports Performance.

Over the next nine months, the drivers will attend six separate workshops of between three and five days at different locations in Europe. The driving elements of the course include the development of technical skills, safety training, attitudes and awareness. The human performance aspect will feature physiology, psychology, nutrition, media skills and career management.

Richard Woods, Director General, FIA Institute, said:

"This selection event has been an incredible story for the FIA Institute. We started out with a process that was open to drivers across the world. After an exceptional response from the ASNs, we chose 18 drivers who arrived here in Austria on Saturday. From those 18 we have the 12 who will go forward for the season.

"But there really are no losers here. Those who haven't been successful have spent three days in the company of world-class competitors and coaches and have had the opportunity to learn a huge amount. Now we look ahead to our first year with the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. The drivers will spend a lot of time with Alex and Robert through this season, learning more about car control, fitness, psychology and, of course road safety."

The first Academy workshop will take place on 26 February to 1 March in Edinburgh, Scotland.