George Russell launches driver academy to tackle spiralling costs

Setting up racing teams and driver academies has become a hallmark of the current generation of drivers. The latest example is George Russell, who has put his name to an ambitious karting project.

While Max Verstappen is actively involved in sports car racing with his own team and Lando Norris has ventured into junior categories, George Russell has turned to the grassroots, with his newly established GR63 Academy set to operate in karting with the admirable aim of giving opportunities to the best young racers, rather than the wealthiest.

The project aims to overcome the financial barriers facing aspiring drivers and their parents, and give opportunities to those who have the talent but cannot afford to race karts.

Russell is working with Silverstone and the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) on the project. The initiative aims to break away from the established model in which young racers’ opportunities are determined primarily by their financial backing, and create a pathway to a professional career in motorsport without having to bear the costs.

“Karting is where it all started for me and has played an essential role in my career,” George Russell said in a statement. “I also know how difficult it is for talented young drivers to get their first opportunity, especially when budgets are limited.”

“With the GR63 Academy, I want to give back to my sport what it has given me by spotting hidden talent and offering them the support and guidance they need to reach their full potential,” said the British driver.

He also revealed how GR63 will operate in its first year. The academy’s stated aim is to select talented youngsters purely on their driving ability. The selection process will consist of several stages held at Silverstone’s karting circuit.

The first stage, running from 6 to 31 December, will consist of open qualifying sessions. Entrants will not need their own kart. The 80 fastest participants will progress from this round.

These 80 qualifiers will meet on 31 January for a racing shootout forming the second stage.

From the first two rounds, George Russell will select 25 young drivers to become members of the GR63 Academy for 2027. The third stage will therefore be a karting championship comprising eight events, taking place from March to November 2027.

The academy will cover all costs associated with these 25 drivers’ participation in the championship, and will also provide them with a full set of racing kit, including a race suit, helmet, boots and gloves. The events will take place on different layouts of Silverstone’s karting circuit.

During this season, contested on different layouts at Silverstone, drivers will be assessed not only on their lap times but also on their wheel-to-wheel racecraft, physical fitness and media skills. Russell will also be personally involved in developing the young racers, sharing his experience as a mentor and guiding them through the demanding process of developing both as drivers and as individuals.

But that is not all. The programme will culminate in December 2027, when the top five will meet in the season finale. The finalists will then battle it out for a hugely valuable prize – a fully funded karting season in 2028.