Dunlop’s Race Academy Winner

After three months of searching and 7000 applicants, Dunlop has finally found a Race Academy winner following the final stage at Silverstone on Tuesday.

Derby-based Andrew Walker won the title after the final three contestants took part in the track ‘shoot-out’ at Silverstone which included a media assessment, drives in the Porsche and Ginetta race car as well as the ARDS assessment and exam that was required to get the race license to compete at Brands Hatch.

The national search was launched at the Autosport Show in January with the intention of discovering a budding Jenson Button or Damon Hill and seven regional finalists were chosen to attend the Dunlop Race Academy.

After completing a fitness test, and a panel interview, featuring representatives from Dunlop, Ginetta and one of Britain’s top GT drivers, Calum Lockie, the drivers had to undergo a driving assessment.

Mr Walker will now take part in the Dunlop Drivers cup at Brands Hatch on 2-3 October.

James Bailey, Dunlop said: “We developed the Race Academy because Dunlop has been part of motorsport for over 100 years in the UK and felt that it was a good opportunity to put something back. We had a great response. 60,000 people looked at the application with around 7,000 entering the on-line test of motorsport and driving knowledge, so it’s proved a popular formula and we hope to repeat it next year.”