Elite Motorsport Academy

Otago Academy of Sport, in partnership with the Motorsport New Zealand Scholarship Trust and Otago University, delivers a tailored high performance driver academy to the rising talent of NZ Motorsport.

The programme, having been initiated in 2004, focuses on equipping the drivers with the skills required to cope with the intense demands of world-class motorsport competition. Selected drivers are immersed in the world of high performance sport, being exposed to disciplines such as physiology, mental skills training, nutrition, media training and life management skills during an introductory week-long camp.

Graduates of the camp gain access to an individual performance programme, (IPP), which includes support services at the completion of the camp, which allows for further up-skilling, support and assessment. Since 2004 race drivers, rally, kart-sport and a drifter have completed the programmes, 11 of which have been females. 32 drivers have gone on to compete off-shore on at least one or more occasions, with 15 having contested FIA recognised events.

Graduates of the Motorsport Academy read like a who’s who of the current crop of NZ’s leading drivers, from both Rally and Circuit racing disciplines.  Former Academy athletes like Shane van Gisbergen, Brendan Hartley, Hayden Paddon, Richie Stanaway, Mitch Evans, Stephen Barker, Hayden Pederson, Mark Gibson and James Munro to name a few.

Detailed Information on the Elite Motorsport Academy is available at http://www.motorsport.org.nz/elite-academy/

 

The 18th Elite Motorsport Academy Camp was held recently in late June through until early July 2022 and was a great success, with an amazing group of diverse drivers that really dedicated themselves to learning as much as possible. Organisation is already underway for the 19th Academy Camp in 2023.

 

2022 Elite Motorsport Academy Athletes are;

Robbie Stokes: Christchurch, Rally
Zac Christensen : Christchurch, Formula Ford 
Hugo Allan: Auckland, Toyota 86
Sebastian Manson: Auckland, Formula Ford
Troy Pennington: Auckland, Speedway – Winner of the Ian Snellgrove Trophy (Top Camp Graduate).
Jackson Clendon: Wiararapa, Rally 
Hayden Bakkerus: Auckland, Formula Ford
Marco Giltrap: Auckland, Toyota 86

Ian Snellgrove Trophy: This prestigious trophy, is awarded in memory of long-time MotorSport New Zealand General Manager and Academy Programme Trustee Ian Snellgrove. It is presented to the top Camp Graduate, then again to the overall winner of each years Class at the completion of the graduate programme, at the Annual Awards dinner in Wellington in May each year.

Elite Motorsport Academy Trustees: David Turner, Alastair Wootten, Lyall Williamson, Tony Herbert.

Read what the athletes have been doing since Academy Camp in July 2021. Elite Motorsport Academy Newsletter One 2021: 

For more information on the Elite Motorsport Academy visit this page: https://motorsport.org.nz/elite-motorsport-academy/

 

Tony Herbert (Trust Manager)

The MotorSport NZ Scholarship Trust

Phone (04) 815 8087
Mobile: 027 4769523
Email: therbert@gmail.com

Carmel Leslie

Otago Academy of Sport Manager

Phone: +64 3 479 0640
Mobile: 027 571 3382
Email: admin@oas.org.nz