German competition car manufacturer Reiter Engineering has announced that, in collaboration with KTM Sportscar GmbH and the Stephane Ratel Organization (SRO), it will introduce the ‘Reiter Young Stars’ championship in 2016 – a new program to find stars of the future, whether driver, mechanic or team manager.
The program will start at the beginning of the 2016 SRO GT4 European Series and will see every driver pairing supported by a European university; with engineering as well as marketing and business students also eligable for the scheme.
There are several young driver and apprentice programs across Formula and Touring Car teams and championships but Reiter Engineering team Owner, Hans Reiter, believes that the new scheme is unique in the world of GT racing and offers substantially more than typical ‘arrive and drive’ packages.
“With the support of KTM and SRO, we are able to start the ‘Reiter Young Stars’ for the 2016 race season,” explained Reiter. “To explain the idea behind this new championship is easy: Primarily the drivers’ education should be sustainable and give our partners the opportunity to access talented young engineers. Young drivers and engineers should be introduced to GT racing and have more opportunities to use their skills than merely optimizing tire pressures.”
Reiter is also keen to highlight that the Young Stars championship goes much further than just race results. Elements such as fastest laps, tire wear, and overall car damage will also influence the championship standings.
The male and female champion drivers in the championship will be awarded a seat in the GT3 category of the SRO-organised Blancpain championship.
“At the SRO Motorsports Group we have always believed in supporting young and upcoming drivers to make their mark in GT Racing,” added Stephane Ratel, founder and CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group. “That is why we fully embraced the Reiter Young Stars idea. It is an innovative concept and a cost-effective first step in GT Racing. Hans Reiter’s experience in GT Racing is a certain guarantee for a solid program.”
