After facing a very intense testing program on and off the track, Jack was selected in the Final 18 to take part in the 2012 FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. Jack will also be joined by fellow Australian Brendan Reeves who competes on the World Rally Stage.

Le Brocq faced many challenges throughout the gruelling 4 day selection process which was held in Melk, Austria. After completing set challenges in Fitness Testing, Team Challenges, an Interview Process, Psychology and Computer testing and also many driving tasks on the track which involved obstacles from a bump pad and skid pans to completing a lap around the Circuit as quick as you could in the 350hp BMW M3’s provided. Jack topped the overall fitness testing and was also looking very good for the Race of Champions honours before a small mistake had him miss the cross over and exit the challenge.

"The FIA Young Driver Excellence Academy was a great experience and I would like to thank CAMS for nominating me for selection. I have learnt a great deal during the selection process, where we were faced with many different situations on the track, and also really came to appreciate that there is so much more to racing success. The Academy’s main focus is on areas of track and road safety which helps the drivers further refine their racing skills and respect of changing track situations.”

“The experience of being instructed on driving race prepared BMW’s by Alex Wurz, Robert Reid and the other notable instructors was nothing short of excellent and I was able to really challenge for the fastest times in an unfamiliar but enjoyable style of driving.”

"Making it into the final 18 is just awesome and this week I have surprised myself with how my fitness went compared to the other 30 Drivers and I was very pleased to finish first in the overall fitness assessment. Over the last couple of years through the AMSF, I’ve been fortunate to attend a number of training camps which have taught me a great deal about fitness and how to achieve what I now know as excellent results. Thanks go to Phil and Glenn up at the Phil Young Fitness Camps in QLD, the AIS and to my Personal Trainer, Denee at Body Mechanics in Berwick.”

 

The Final Day

All drivers headed to the track for a race-of-champions style shoot-out on the final day of the selection event. Performance managers Alex Wurz and Robert Reid were quick to point out that the racing, while the pinnacle of the competitive element of the shoot-out, would only represent a part of their assessment of the drivers which has been ongoing through a series of tests over the last four days. Yet this did not dim the competition on the track at the Wachau Ring in Melk, Austria. The itinerary was straightforward with practice and qualifying followed by a pursuit-style, knockout competition for the top 16. In the final, the fastest qualifier was pitched against the ninth quickest; second fastest versus tenth down to eighth versus 16th. Starting alongside each other, one driver would take the quick outside track whilst the other went to the twisting inner part of the circuit and they swapped halfway through to complete two laps. From then on the competition was pure and simple: the winner went on, the loser went out. Armed with the data, the analysis and the results from four days, the judges - Robert Reid, Alex Wurz, FIA Institute Director General Richard Woods and FIA Institute Director of Programmes Quentin Crombie – went through the thorough process of deciding on the successful drivers.

 

The Academy

Over the next year, the 18 drivers will attend a series of workshops covering all aspects of driver performance and safety. 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.

The primary goals of the Academy are: to prepare young drivers to compete at the pinnacle of the sport, to increase skills in the area of driver and road safety; and to actively promote the principles of safety, fairness and responsibility both on and off the track.

 

Robert Reid, Performance Manager, FIA Institute Academy, said:

"It has been really good to meet these drivers, who have arrived here from around the world but have all demonstrated the same hunger to succeed. They've been through lots of rigorous testing which has given us a great understanding of what makes them tick. I'm really looking forward to working with the chosen Academy drivers over the next year."

 

Alex Wurz, Performance Manager, FIA Institute Academy, said:

"Over the course of the four days we have been looking at every area of driving skill. We have broken this down into its composite parts, such as steering input, braking input, throttle input, and into combining all of this behind the wheel. Overall, these guys have demonstrated a lot of talent. They are also all very coachable and they have a good understanding of what we are after. I'm really looking forward to a good cooperation with the new Academy drivers."

 

Richard Woods, Director General, FIA Institute, said:

"This selection event has demonstrated the breadth of young driving talent worldwide. We are delighted to be able to help develop that talent further and in the right way, with the focus not just on performance but also on safety and excellence."

Andrew Papadopoulos, President, Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), believes that having two Australians selected for the Academy represents somewhat of a coup.

“It really is an indication of the strength of Australian motor sport on the global stage at the moment,” said Mr Papadopoulos.

“You’ve only got to look at the likes of Webber, Power, Briscoe, Ambrose, and our latest young star Daniel Ricciardo, to see the impact that Australians are making.”

“Jack and Brendan have done a wonderful job as ambassadors for Australian motor sport in passing through the Academy testing phase with flying colours.”

“We’re very confident that they will continue to represent us with distinction, not only throughout 2012 as members of the Academy, but also in their future careers.”

“CAMS would like to wish them the absolute best of luck for 2012!”

The first Academy workshop will take place on 10-14 December 2011 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 

The 18 drivers are (in alphabetical order):

Mohamed Al Mutawaa, 18, UAE

Klaus Bachler, 20, Austria

Andrea Bate, 22, South Africa

Craig Breen, 21, Ireland

Andrea Caldarelli, 21, Italy

Gabriel Chaves, 18, Columbia

Jonas Gelzinis, 23, Lithuania

Michael Klitgaard Christensen, 21, Denmark

Jack Le Brocq, 19, Australia

Michael Lewis, 20, USA

Alexander Lynn, 18, UK

Jose Andres Montalto, 21, Costa Rica

Ramon Pineiro, 19, Spain

Brendan Reeves, 23, Australia

Pontus Tidemand, 20, Sweden

Timo van der Marel, 22, Holland

Sepp Wiegand, 20, Germany

Lewis Williamson, 21, UK

Jack is now in London until the next camp which will be held in Edinburgh in a few weeks time. While there he is sorting out his options for the 2012 season and also taking part in some testing in the new Eco Boost Formula Ford which is set to debut in the 2012 British Formula Ford seasn.