AASA Top Gun Drivers Academy created
The Australian Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA) has formed a new academy designed to assist drivers in progressing through the open-wheel ranks of motorsport.
Titled the AASA Top Gun Drivers Academy, the program will be run by Formula Ford Stars and Renegades Series Manager Jeff Grech and Australian Drivers’ Championship Category Manager Jon Crooke.
The idea is to take drivers from karting up through the ranks of Formula Ford, providing young drivers a shot at winning the Australian Drivers’ Championship (ADC), and beyond.
This year marks the first time that both Formula Ford and the ADC have been under the AASA sanctioning body. As a result, the newly formed academy is offering a prize to the 2025 Formula Ford Champion.
The champ will be rewarded with a drive in an Aussie built Hyper Racer X1 for the opening round of the 2026 Australian Drivers’ Championship, with mentorship provided by former series winner Dean Crooke.
It is hoped that the opportunity will encourage progression into the Australian Drivers’ Championship. Former winners include John Bowe, Mark Skaife, David Brabham and Scott Dixon and Jason Bright.
Formula Ford is a legendary platform for teaching wheel-to-wheel racing to young aspiring racing drivers. Grech is excited to offer Formula Ford drivers the chance to claim this valuable opportunity of graduating to the ADC.
“With the addition of Formula Ford to the AASA national calendar, it made perfect sense to link our open-wheeler categories together to provide clear stepping stones for skilled drivers to prove their worth and springboard their progression,” he said.
ADC Category Manager Jon Crooke explained that this is just the first step for the AASA Top Gun Drivers Academy.
“The ultimate vision for the program is to provide a comparatively affordable pathway from Go Karting to the ‘Gold Star’ Australian Drivers’ Championship, completely under the AASA sanctioning banner,” Crooke said.
The academy also plans to include other open-wheel feeder categories including Formula Vee as part of the broader “ladder of categories.”
Jack Clifford has driven in GB3 and GB4 and recently tested an Aussie Hyper Racer X1, he believes that the ADC will be a great step for young drivers wanting to make a career from racing overseas.
“A successful Hyper Racer driver would slot straight into a GB4 or GB3 car, easy as.” Clifford said.
Both the Formula Ford Stars and Renegades Series and Australian Drivers’ Championship will kick off at Winton Motor Raceway from February 28-March 2.
Tickets can be purchased here - https://events.humanitix.com/hi-tec-oils-super-series-2025-round-1/tickets
Coverage will take place on Fox Sports, Kayo, SBS On Demand and SBS Viceland from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.