Alongside ROKiT’s unveiling as the championship’s new title partner, the brand also simultaneously announced their brand-new Racing Star programme to support two future talents.
The scheme will select 32 participants aged either 14 or 15 years old through the sport’s ever-growing eSports scene, with a further shootout held on state-of-the-art simulators at the University of Bolton next Spring to determine which two drivers – one boy and one girl – will be awarded a fully-funded seat in British F4 for the 2023 season with the FIA Racing Star team, underpinned by Hitech GP.
That prize will include 25 days of a testing and six months of training and development alongside Motorsport UK Academy, the governing body’s elite performance pathway, to aid their attainment of the necessary race licence and build a foundation on which to progress as athletes in competition.
Spearheading the programme is Bob Fernley, Head of the FIA Single-Seater Commission, and a recognisable character from Formula 1, having spent time previously as the Deputy Team Principal at Force India.
ROKiT’s backing of both the series and the scheme highlights their intent to not only provide a platform on which rising stars can thrive, but also to actively put a framework in place to unearth talents who might otherwise have missed out on a chance to forge a career in the sport.
Robert Fernley, Head of the FIA Single-Seater Commission:
“I’m very excited to be able to unveil the new FIA Racing Star programme, and our ties with both ROKiT and the F4 British Championship.
“Talent detection programmes are commonplace in sport, generally, but in motorsport, this really is a ground-breaking opportunity for two stars of the future to make an impact in a virtual environment, then have the framework and support to translate their abilities into real-world competition alongside a renowned resource such as the Motorsport UK Academy.
ROKiT really has to be commended for partnering the ROKiT – Racing Star F4 Esports UK initiative to complement their British F4 Championship commitment which really demonstrates their desire to providing opportunities and supporting youngster realise their racing dream, the stakes have never been higher to win the two converted spots on the grid as part of the ROKiT F4 Racing Star Team in 2023.”
Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman and Co-Founder of the ROKiT Group of Companies:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Motorsport UK as the Title Partner of the ROKiT F4 British Championship, which historically has been the launch pad for so many world-famous drivers, and to be announcing today the highly innovative ROKiT Racing Stars eRacing initiative. These exciting programmes are fully aligned with each other with the main aim of encouraging and developing the next generation of young motor racing talent, both boys and girls, and giving the best of them clear opportunities to progress further and rapidly in the sport.”
“We have ambitious and exciting plans to help the F4 British Championship become more popular than ever amongst drivers and fans alike and to cross-promote the championship with ROKiT’s other motor sport sponsorships around the world. “Through ROKiT Racing Stars and being Title Partner of the British F4 means ROKiT will be involved in the recruitment, development and progress of new talent in motor sports. We plan to keep a close eye on the progress of these young drivers as they follow in the footsteps of many legends in the sport.”
