AUSSIE YOUNG GUNS HANDPICKED AS FERRARI ACADEMY WINNERS – Auto Action

By Auto Action

Date posted: October 18, 2022

Jack Beeton and Gianmarco Pradel are names to keep an eye on after the Australian teenagers were named as winners of the 2022 Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program.

The duo were handpicked after standing out from a field of 24 talented teenagers from around Australia and the Asia Pacific region chosen to attend the program at Sepang International Circuit, the home of the Malaysian Formula 1 and MotoGP Grands prix.

Having made it to the programs final six after a series of intense testing both in and out of a Formula 4 car, Beeton and Pradel did enough to impress the collection of judges, which included FDA representatives Marco Matassa and Alessendaro Vantini, and ultimately secured a spot at the World Scouting Finals later this month.

Both Australians will now head to Ferraris home base in Maranello for the finals, where they will go up against some of the best young talents from around the world for a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Young Aussie Jack Beeton analysing data with an engineer on the final day of the FDA Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program. Photos: Xoom DImage

For Beeton, the 14-year-old entered the event with little experience in a Formula 4 car, having just graduated from karting where he finished fourth in the 2022 KA4 Junior class.

The preparation saw him complete a number of F4 test sessions around the country, as well as regular visits to Focus Driver for a series of sim sessions.

The young Queenslander was over the moon to be placed in the final two.

It feels absolutely amazing to be selected. I am so grateful and humbled the FDA chose me to participate in the World Finals as a representative from the Asia Pacific, Beeton said.

Coming out of Sepang, I was quite confident because I felt I had exceeded expectations at the camp. I felt like I drove to the best of my ability, so it was really up to Ferrari and whether they liked me or not.

Any one of the six could have made it to the top two and we all deserved to go to the World Finals equally, but I am really thrilled to be one of the two that gets to go.

My expectations for Italy are that it will be an amazing experience no matter what and a great learning opportunity about what it takes to be a F1 driver of course I am hopeful of making the cut.

A big thank you to my parents, the Ferrari Driver Academy, Motorsport Australia, Focus Driver for helping me learn the track on a simulator, AGI Sport for helping with my development and everyone along the way who has supported me to this point.

I am super excited for the FDA World Scouting Finals and I am sure it will bring many opportunities to my career regardless of what the result is.

Australian teen Gianmarco Pradel with an engineer at the 2022 FDA Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program. Pic: Zoom DImage

Pradel had more success at a karting level in the lead up the event, securing multiple podiums at a national level in senior X30 and Rotax classes.

The 16-year-old from New South Wales also gained a wealth of experience testing and running in a state-level Formula Race Car in the past 12 months, for which he won two races.

It is a massive privilege to be selected for the World Scouting Finals later this month and it is a huge opportunity for me one that I am both stoked and thankful for getting, Pradel explained.

The fact that I will be going to Italy just a month after I was in Sepang hasnt really sunk in yet and I am still coming to grips with the idea, but I am excited for what will be an amazing experience.

For me, I was just focused on doing my best during the Asia Pacific Finals and leaving everything I had there. I feel I did, and I am satisfied with my efforts.

With that said, I would have been content with just making the top six, but to be selected for the top two and to go to Maranello is an even bigger achievement.

I dont have any expectations now I am just happy to be going and I will just try to keep preparing as much as I can in readiness for the event.

There is a massive list of people to thank for this, including my parents, Rush Performance, AGI Sport, Motorsport Australia and the Ferrari Driver Academy for this incredible opportunity.

A total of 24 drivers were pushed to the limits at the academys Asia, Pacific and Oceania final at the Sepang International Circuit. Photos: Xoom DImage

Marco Matassa was the Head of the Academy, and was pleased to welcome both drivers to the FDA Scouting World Finals, which will feature some of the best young steerers from around the globe.

The FDA Scouting World Finals are very important for us, he said.

Along with our scouting partners, we have chosen six youngsters from four continents and five countries, based solely on their talent, ability and potential, irrespective of their financial situation.

I would like to thank Motorsport Australia for organising the Sepang selection event, thus fully activating our scouting programme after the difficult years of the pandemic.

I cant wait to welcome Jack and Gianmarco here in Maranello when they tackle our evaluation process.

Two Australians were handpicked as the best within the Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program.Photos: Xoom DImage

Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith praised the two boys for their efforts as they prepare to represent Australia on the world stage.

Gianmarco and Jack showed a mixture of pace and lots of raw potential during the three days at Sepang and I believe they were deserving of being selected for Italy, Smith said.

I have no doubt these two young boys will make their country proud and will have a serious crack at earning a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

As for the other 22 drivers, all attendees were highly professional, passionate and mature throughout the week and anyone could have been selected based on their skills.

I am already looking forward to the 2023 edition and seeing what more this region has to offer.

The Ferrari Driver Academy World Scouting Finals takes place at Maranello on 24-28 October.

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