McLaren announces youth program

McLaren Racing has announced the creation of its own development program for young drivers. As part of the project, McLaren Racing will support and develop pilots’ careers, starting with karting.

In addition to young talent, the new program will help professional drivers from other racing series by giving them the opportunity to gain experience behind the wheel of a car in Formula 1. McLaren Racing expects the program to provide drivers for its own teams in Formula 1 , IndyCar and Formula E.

McLaren’s youth program includes IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, F1 team reserve driver Alex Palou and young driver Hugo Ugochukwu. The project is led by former Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner Emanuel Pirro.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing: “McLaren has a long history of developing young talent into world-class drivers and I am proud that we will continue to do so in the future. We have an experienced team that, led by Emanuele, will provide the support and resources necessary to develop a young talent into a competitive professional rider.

McLaren has a strong presence in Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E. We have every opportunity to develop a young driver’s career, from the first steps to a prize driver or test driver. We already have a group of great talent, including Pato, Alex and Hugo. I am pleased that they will continue to learn through the launch of our program.”

Emanuele Pirro, McLaren Driver Development Program Director: “I am delighted to have been appointed to this role for several reasons. McLaren has played a vital role in my career by giving me the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car and working with top drivers such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger.

My role with the team is to help create a state-of-the-art program, select the very best riders and provide them with all the tools they need to get the best out of their talent. I also have to teach them McLaren’s values ​​and vision. I hope one of the drivers goes to the Formula 1 team.

A key asset for us are the teams in IndyCar and Formula E, which will provide our program participants with additional professional career opportunities.

I like working with young riders, to help them grow and improve. Every time I’ve done this in the past it’s been a new experience and I look forward to doing it again.

McLaren has a great history in Formula 1. It means a lot to me and I’m proud to be a part of this programme. I am grateful to Zack Brown and Andrea Stella for this great opportunity.”