Richardson Racing can today confirm that it is to launch an all-new academy aimed at helping novice drivers to take the first steps in their racing and professional driving careers.

The Richardson Performance Driver Academy, created as a joint venture between the Corby-based team and experienced instructor and precision driver Sam Maher-Loughnan, will launch following the conclusion of the team’s 2017 racing programme at Brands Hatch this coming weekend.

The RPDA will operate at the Rockingham Motor Speedway, which is just minutes away from the workshop where the team operates its GT and Formula 4 race programmes.

The Academy will offer expert tuition from ARDS licensed instructors across a range of different disciplines, with a Race Drivers’ School, Supercar Clinic, Stunt Driving School and Defensive Driving School being offered.

The Race Drivers’ School will provide novices with the skills and knowledge required to compete on-track.

Those who sign up for the School will take part in a week-long programme that will offer much more than just the ARDS test required to take part in competitive motorsport.

A combination of class-based activities and on-track assessment will be geared towards helping graduates to prepare for their first race meeting, and to ensure that they can make the most of their time on track.

Tuition will be provided in the race craft and techniques required to extract the maximum performance from their racecars, with the school continuing to provide guidance and analysis right through the novice driver period.

With the Academy open to drivers of all ages, it will also act as the first step on Richardson Racing’s new ladder programme.

Academy graduates could move into competitive racing with the team in the highly competitive British F4 Championship, with younger drivers first entering the Ginetta Junior Championship.

Ginetta GRDC+ or GT5 Challenge are also options available for more experienced drivers, before moving into the British GT Championship in an all-new Mercedes-AMG GT4.

However, the Academy won’t just be open to those who want to launch a racing career.

The Supercar Clinic is aimed at providing supercar owners with a safe environment in which to maximise their understanding of the complex systems that are featured on their cars, and also to help improve their safety on the road.

It is also suitable for track day enthusiasts who may simply be looking to enhance their enjoyment of their own high-performance cars.

The last theme in the initial launch period will provide trainee stunt drivers with a dedicated training course delivered by an Equity approved stunt driving instructor; the only Bobby Ore Stunt School qualified instructor in Europe. It will also offer stunt-driving experiences to those who simply want to drive like in the movies.

Gwyn Richardson – Richardson Racing Team Principal:
“This is a remarkable once in a lifetime programme, and the Race Drivers’ school is something I’ve been looking to do for quite a few years now. The ARDS test checks that drivers know what they’re supposed to do on track, but there’s more to being ready for a first race than that. So we’ll be delivering everything from race day procedures to on track driver development to help the novice driver safely and effectively through the novice period.

“Bringing Sam Maher-Loughnan, a uniquely qualified instructor, into the fold offered the opportunity for a whole new dimension of motorsport and professional driver training and experiences. But we couldn’t be embarking on this programme without the full support of Rockingham Motor Speedway. We’re all really looking forward to the next few months.”

Sam Maher-Loughnan:
“I am absolutely delighted to be involved with this project, as I feel a true racing school is something that has been sorely missed in the UK for a number of years.

“What we are looking to offer with the Richardson Performance Driver Academy is a fresh and exciting approach to driver training that goes beyond anything else that is currently available; embracing the true concept of a racing school but also offering valuable services to all manner of professional drivers.”