Academy Boost for Jessica
14 year old Jessica Edgar’s racing ambitions were given a massive boost last week when she was accepted as part of the Motorsport UK’s Academy intake for 2020. The Ennerdale youngster who currently attends Keswick School is one of four karting stars to gain acceptance. They join 12 others from all branches of British motorsport, ranging from Formula Fords to GT4 sports-cars.
The drivers were selected based on a combination of their performance in 2019, previous achievements and future potential. The academy is run in conjunction with Loughborough College, using qualified coaches and support personnel. It seeks out Britain’s most promising young drivers and hopefully equips them with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to maximise performance.
Throughout a two year programme, Jessica will have access to numerous courses plus guidance and support all provided free of charge. Apart from developing her driving talent, she will also learn many other skills associated with the modern sport, including public speaking techniques, team management and how to attract sponsorship.
“It’s a great honour for Jessica to be accepted onto this exciting programme,” said her father, Jason. “We were told about it by someone from Motorsport UK who suggested that she should apply. A lot of time, effort and money can go into preparing young drivers for a professional career in motorsport and, invariably, the expected opportunities fail to materialise. The great thing about this programme is that, by developing skills in all facets of motorsport, it provides them with a second string to their bow.”
Academy coach, James Wozencroft said, “The Motorsport UK Squad Programme offers a great opportunity for drivers to develop their knowledge in all factors relevant to achieving their goals. The industry experts provide real insights into specialist fields that often aren’t possible to access. I’m really looking forward to working with the new selection of drivers and helping them to utilise this information to become the best they can be.”
