2011 FUJITSU COOL DRIVERS ANNOUNCED
After an exhaustive evaluation and voting phase the eleven Fujitsu “Cool” Drivers have been announced. Seven karters, one from each State of Australia, and four National Formula Ford drivers are now confirmed as Fujitsu “Cool” Drivers for the 2011 motorsport season.
Over 370 of Australia’s finest young drivers applied to be part of this exciting, new initiative - where drivers will receive financial and career support from Fujitsu General (Aust.) Pty Limited and Velocity Management Group - with the average age of the entire squad coming in at just sixteen years.
Those gaining a coveted place in the program’s inaugural year are as follows:
FORMULA FORD
Cameron Waters (16), Nick Foster (18), Shae Davies (20), Rhett Noonan (17)
KARTING
Jason LeCocq (15 - WA), Brody Appleby (14 - TAS), Renee Gracie (16 - QLD), Damon Strongman (12 - VIC), Joey Mawson (14 - NSW), Royce Nott (19 - NT), Todd Hazelwood (15 - SA)
Fujitsu General’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr Philip Perham was delighted with the response to the program and excited about the selections making up this year’s squad of drivers.
“We are just ecstatic here at Fujitsu that so many young motor racing stars wanted to be part of this program. The applicants were all very worthy but in the end we had to apply the science we had at our disposal to come up with eleven worthy members.
“I am more than happy with the group we have, which includes some of the brightest motor racing talent in the country as well as some new, up-and-coming stars.
“Some of the responses to our letters of offer were simply incredible and really hit home how much these young drivers appreciate what we are trying to achieve. AFL, NRL, Cricket and Netball are among the sports that enjoy youth development programs, and Fujitsu is delighted to be the company pioneering this important ground within the motorsport sector.”
FUJITSU ‘COOL’ DRIVER PROGRAM
The ‘Cool’ driver program commenced this year when Fujitsu expanded on its already comprehensive motorsport sponsorship presence with a staircase progression path covering Karting and Formula Ford.
Seven (7) positions for Karters were offered; with one (1) driver from each State of Australia making up the Karting component of the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
Four (4) positions for National Formula Ford competitors were also on offer for drivers contesting the entire 2011 Australian Formula Ford Championship.
Inclusion in each of the two elements (Karting and Formula Ford) is for the duration of 2011 before an end of year review will be conducted prior to the 2012 racing season.
The successful candidates receive lucrative ‘Cool’ Driver contracts to assist with their career development plans. In addition to a bonus payment scheme for winning results in major races and titles the best performing Karter will receive an opportunity to test with a National Formula Ford team, while the Formula Ford drivers will be competing for a V8 Supercar test with the Fujitsu sponsored Garry Rogers Motorsport operation.
An age limit for inclusion is in place and Karters need to be aged from 12 years while the Formula Ford aspirants will need to be aged from 14 years.
TERMS, CONDITIONS & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
AGE LIMIT
The age limit for the Karting ‘Cool’ Driver Program is open to drivers 12 years and older as at January 1, 2011.
The age limit for the Formula Ford ‘Cool’ Driver Program is open to drivers 14 years and older as at January 1, 2011.
NO COMPETE
Drivers who receive any support; financial, product or associative from any competitor of Fujitsu General (Aust.) will be ineligible to receive support from the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
RACE ENTRY
Karting
All eligible Karters must contest at least the State Championship within their State of residence and ideally the National Karting Championships within the calendar year of support.
Note: Karters who do not contest the State Championship within their State will repay the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program endorsement fee in full unless otherwise agreed.
Formula Ford
All eligible Formula Ford drivers must contest each and every round of the eight (8) round Australian Formula Ford Championship.
Note: Any Formula Ford driver missing any single round will repay the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program one-eighth of the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver endorsement fee unless otherwise agreed.
Any driver missing more than two rounds will repay the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program endorsement fee in full unless otherwise agreed.
BRANDING
All drivers (Karting & Formula Ford) will display the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program logo on their race helmets in the front, middle upper section (see artwork below).
Note: Decals will be supplied
All Formula Ford Drivers will also display the word “Fujitsu” (size to be advised) in white lettering on their race car mirrors and the mirrors will be painted in ‘Fujitsu red’
Note: Decals will be supplied
All Karters will also display the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program logo on the front Nassau panel of their karts below the race number background area (example to be provided)
MERCHANDISE
All Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program participants will be provided with the following merchandise:
3 x Tee shirts (to be worn under race suit at all times)
2 x Polo Shirts (to be worn while travelling and attending race meetings after hours)
1 x Jacket (to be worn when suitable)
BEHAVIOUR
Any incident that may bring the program and or any of the stake-holding companies - and specifically Fujitsu General (Aust.) - into disrepute could lead to the instant cancellation of the driver’s participation in the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
ENDORSEMENT FEE
Each Karter will receive an identical Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program endorsement fee and Performance Related Bonus (PRB) structure.
Each Formula Ford driver will receive an identical Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program fee and Performance Related Bonus (PRB) structure.
TEST DRIVE OPPORTUNITY
Karters
The Karter adjudged to have completed 2011 as the most successful of the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program members will be provided with a testing opportunity driving an Australian Formula Ford Championship machine (team, location and timing to be advised).
Formula Ford
The highest placed driver, who finishes within the top five championship positions in the 2011 Australian Formula Ford Championship, will be provided with a V8 Supercar testing opportunity by Garry Rogers Motorsport (location and timing to be advised).
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
A career development program will support inclusion in the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program and will be facilitated by Velocity Management Group Pty Ltd.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
A maximum of Seven (7) Karters - one from within each State of Australia - will be identified, selected and offered a position in the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
A maximum of Four (4) Formula Ford drivers - contesting the Australian Championship - will be identified, selected and offered a position in the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
Note: No correspondence will be entered into for those drivers who fail to secure a place in the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program.
TIMING
Applications for entry into the Fujitsu ‘Cool’ Driver Program closed 26 January 2011.