Mercedes-Benz concludes 'Young Star Driver' Season II

Mercedes-Benz concluded Season II of the 'Young Star Driver Programme' on August 8, 2014.

This year, the programme received 5970 applications from racing aspirants, almost double of what it received in the previous season; 60% of which were from smaller towns of India. The jury, headed by renowned Indian racing personality, Vicky Chandhok along with his experienced team, shortlisted 24 young aspirants to compete for 6 slots in an elimination round held on August 7, 2014. The selection was based on pre-defined criteria like racing acumen, racing aptitude and accomplishment.

On August 8, the 6 finalists went head to head against each other to attain the best lap time in a Mercedes CLA 45 AMG, at the Buddh International Circuit. Raj Bharath, from Bangalore, emerged as the winner with a lap time of 2:26:708; followed by G Vikash Anand and Ali Yawar Hayat clocking lap times of 2:28:622 and 2:29:255 respectively.

The winner of the ‘Mercedes-Benz Young Star Driver Programme Season II’ gets a coveted seat in the AMG Driving Academy PRO-Training in Germany and a chance to meet Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team drivers, Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg, in the Singapore Grand Prix this year. The runners-up get the popular AMG Driving Academy BASIC & ADVANCED course in India.