Bridgestone launches 2007 e-reporter initiative

Bridgestone is providing opportunities for the next generation of budding motorsport journalists to reveal their talents through its 2007 e-reporter initiative. The Europe-wide competition, now in its fourth year, offers up-and-coming writers with the chance to interview GP2 drivers and write in-depth race reports from a European GP2 race weekend.

Entry is open to all students aged 18-30 who are in full time education, and seven finalists will be chosen to attend a live GP2 race and spend time with the drivers Bridgestone believe to be tomorrow’s potential F1 stars. The initiative’s judges include ITV F1 commentator James Allen, Sky Sports broadcaster Tony Jardine, Motorsport magazine news editor Jim Holden, GP2 media manager Will Buxton and Bridgestone Motorsport press officer Rachel Ingham.

James Allen commented: “I was a big supporter of e-reporter in 2006, meeting most of the finalists, and I am delighted to be a judge again in 2007. It is important to put something back into this business, I do this when I can, and I think the competition is a wonderful idea for young journalists to get hands-on experience.”

Previous winners and finalists of Bridgestone e-reporter have secured desirable media positions as a direct result of their experience in the GP2 paddocks. Last year’s winner, Martin Westerhoff, was offered experience with Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport, and now works as a freelance journalist.

The GP2 race reports and diary entries of all finalists will be published on the Bridgestone Europe, Bridgestone Motorsport and GP2 websites. The overall winner of the 2007 competition will gain full paddock access to the final GP2 race of the season and be given the scope to report on the race in a journalistic capacity, with the chance to see their work published in a specialist motorsport magazine. They will also be given a laptop, a trip to a Bridgestone safety event in Europe and work experience with the highly regarded industry paper Motorsport News.

The closing date for entries is 31 March. Additional details about the competition can be found at www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter