At end of November, the Goodyear FIA ETRC, in collaboration with the FIA, hosted a Young Driver Day at the FIA headquarters in Paris. The event brought together aspiring young racing drivers and talents from various European truck racing series. The primary goal was to foster the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship across countries within Europe.
The FIA program provided valuable insights into the organisation and European Truck Racing, showcased FIA‘s work and services and outlined opportunities within the Goodyear FIA ETRC. The day also included a sim-racing competition, a virtual-reality flight over Paris experience and concluded with a social dinner and gathering.
The overarching aim was to inspire and connect the next generation of truck racing stars, creating a platform for collaboration and mutual growth within the racing community.
Portuguese racer José Eduardo Rodrigues was the first driver to take the European Young Drivers’ Championship title in 2023. His achievement will be celebrated at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku on Friday, underlining the commitment to recognising and fostering emerging talents in the sport.
The European Young Drivers’ Championship, which was introduced at the start of this season, is open to drivers under 30. They compete and score points in the same fashion as the Promoter’s Cup, with the fastest driver under 30 claiming the title at the end of the season. The new category aims to elevate the prospects of young truck racing drivers and to find the next European Truck Racing Champion.
Janine Meyer, ETRA Director of Operations, emphasised: “We are committed to nurturing and developing the potential of young truck racing drivers. The European Young Drivers’ Championship and the recent Young Driver Day are crucial steps in identifying potential future champions.”
Manuel Vidal, FIA Truck Racing Commission President, said: “Traditionally the sport of truck racing has mostly attracted experienced drivers who already had a career in other forms of racing. But, like other sports, we need to evolve and one of our main objectives is to attract more young blood to Goodyear FIA ETRC, making this series a viable career prospect for younger drivers. Therefore, initiatives such as this as FIA ETRC Young Driver Day are very important. Being a complete racing driver is much more than just the work done behind the wheel. This is the reason why it’s so important to give young racers a comprehensive overview of all areas of truck racing – from technology, through communications to marketing. That should help them to raise their profiles, attract partners and in the end, become professional race drivers who get paid to race.”