George Russell has launched a karting academy at Silverstone to find young drivers whose families can't pay for the sport.
The Mercedes F1 driver's GR63 Karting Academy, run with the circuit and the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), will give 25 children a fully funded championship in 2027.
Four stages to the top
The academy is open to boys and girls aged eight and nine who are citizens of a Commonwealth country. Everything takes place at the Silverstone kart track.
- Stage one: open "arrive and drive" sessions in December 2026, costing £25.
- Stage two: the 80 fastest drivers go through to a shootout on 31 January 2027, which costs £75 to enter.
- Stage three: 25 drivers race in an eight-round championship from March to November 2027, with all their costs covered.
- Stage four: the top five meet in a final race in December 2027. The winner gets a fully funded karting season in 2028.
Why Russell is doing it
Junior karting is expensive, and the academy is aimed at talented children who would otherwise be held back by the cost. From the championship stage on, drivers pay nothing.
Russell, an eight-time Grand Prix winner, said: "Karting is where it all started for me."
The BRDC's president, former F1 driver David Coulthard, said the club was pleased to support the next generation of drivers at Silverstone.
What happens next
Bookings for the first sessions are open through Silverstone's GR63 Academy website. Russell's own season continues at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Race it on Late Brake
Silverstone is one of the six real circuits in Late Brake, the free browser game. You can't drive the kart track, but you can take on the full Grand Prix layout: turn on the racing line and braking boards to learn it, then chase the bronze, silver and gold medal times.
Sources: The Race, Autosport, Motorsport.com