2017 CAMS Foundation Rising Star Drivers Announced7 Feb, 2017 The CAMS Foundation has confirmed the four young Australian drivers that will become part of the CAMS Foundation Rising Star program in 2017. Circuit racers Simon Fallon and Cameron Shields have been selected as the programme’s elite drivers, with Zane Morse and Ryan Suhle as the Rising Star’s karting graduates. CAMS Foundation Chairman, Valentina Stojanovska said “The CAMS Foundation has a great tradition in aiding the pathway for Australia’s next generation of elite motor sport drivers.” “On behalf of the CAMS Foundation I would like to congratulate Simon, Cameron, Zane and Ryan on becoming a part of the new CAMS Foundation Rising Stars program.” CAMS Foundation Director Mark Skaife added “We were thrilled at the quality of candidates applying to be part of the next-generation CAMS Foundation Rising Stars platform. We believe that our four selected race drivers are unquestionably talented, and it is with great anticipation that we look forward to working with them to improve them - both in and out of the car.” The four drivers will receive a $50,000 scholarship loan from the CAMS Foundation to put together a racing programme to compete in the 2017 CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship. “With the CAMS Foundation Rising Star featuring such impressive alumni as Matthew Brabham, Macauley Jones, Scott Pye and James Courtney, we are excited to see how our Rising Stars of 2017 develop into Australia’s next generation of motor racing stars,” Skaife said. “Importantly, the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship is internationally credentialed as a pathway for young drivers looking to make their mark in Australia in Supercars, or to those aspiring for an international open-wheel career such as past CAMS Foundation recipients Daniel Ricciardo and Will Power.” Simon Fallon, awarded the Burson Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title in the 2016 CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship, won his first national circuit race on the Gold Coast in October. Cameron Shields was the youngest National Class Champion in the 2016 Australian Formula 3 Series, alongside being the series’ youngest starter in his first year with the category. Ryan Suhle won his first championship in 2012 at the Ipswich Kart Club, later progressing to win the 2015 Australian KF3 Kart Championship and representing Australia in the CIK-FIA World Cup in Italy. Zane Morse’s early karting achievements came as 2011 ACT Rookie Champion, 2012 ACT J-Max Champion, 2013 SA J-Max Champion, 2015 Queensland KF3 Champion and the first junior back-to-back National J-Max Champion in 2014 and 2015. The first round of the 2017 CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship will take place at Sandown Raceway on April 7–9.
Simon Fallon Cameron Shields Zane Morse Ryan Suhle |
|
