Six Formula Kart Stars drivers will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents in a fully fledged single seater racing car as the Formula BMW Talent Cup and the Formula One Management backed Championship continue their successful partnership. 

The Formula Kart Stars series  is looking for six FKS drivers who are currently lying within the top six in their class.  Drivers from the Senior Rotax, Junior Rotax and Mini Max classes and who are a minimum of 15 years old and a maximum of 16 years old this year will be eligible. The selected drivers will test one of the world renowned FB02 chassis that provided Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg and many others with their first taste of car racing at the equally world renowned Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

The FKS  judging panel will then select two FKS drivers to move forward to the next step of the Talent Cup assessment programme before one driver is awarded a place in the Formula BMW Talent Cup Scholarship Shoot-Out later this year, which could lead to a subsidised place in the main 2013 Formula BMW Talent Cup.

Designed to replace the various national Formula BMW Championships in 2011, the Talent Cup takes a different approach to introducing newcomers to single seater racing, with participants being schooled in all aspects of racing both on and off track during a one-year curriculum.

Formula Kart Stars drivers will be introduced to the basic elements of single seater racing during the test including off-track driver coaching and on-track shift and braking exercises, lead and follow exercises and free practice.

BMW works driver Dirk Adorf, who acts as the main driver coach for the BMW Talent Cup test programme, will oversee the test and knows how BMW’s approach to working with young drivers helps them as they progress up the motorsport ladder.

“The Formula BMW Talent Cup is a unique concept in motor racing,” says Adorf. “I expect to see some excellent talent from the Formula Kart Stars drivers but they must be aware that the BMW Talent Cup is not simply about being fast on circuit, it is about unlocking all the keys to being a professional racing driver on and off the track.”

Formula Kart Stars Championship Director Carolynn Hoy is pleased to see the relationship between the two organisations growing following a successful 2011 season that saw FKS drivers participate in Talent Cup assessments at Valencia in Spain and Brands Hatch in England.

“Our tagline is ‘The Road to Formula One through Racing and Education’ and the Formula BMW Talent Cup also embraces that concept,” says Hoy. “More and more often you hear racing drivers say that the actual racing is one of the more relaxing aspects of being a professional driver and BMW works tirelessly to make sure their drivers are fully prepared for all the off-track pressures as well as the on-track ones.

“The FKS drivers who tested the Formula BMW car in 2011 all said what a fantastic experience it was and I’m delighted BMW have offered our championship even more places in 2012. I know the six drivers chosen will enjoy the experience but above all, I know they will show everyone just how talented they are.”