Karting costs a fortune. George Russell wants to change that
Formula 1 driver George Russell has launched the GR63 Karting Academy at Silverstone, offering children aged eight and nine a chance to compete in a fully funded racing championship and potentially secure another season at no cost.
The programme, announced on November 12 in partnership with Silverstone and the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), aims to find promising young drivers across the UK, particularly those whose families cannot afford the high costs of competitive karting.
Russell, who started karting at the age of seven, said financial barriers often prevent talented children from progressing.
«I know how hard it is for talented young drivers to get that first opportunity, especially when budgets are tight,» Russell said.
The Mercedes driver hopes to identify young racers who might otherwise go unnoticed and provide them with coaching, equipment and experience.
How can children join the GR63 Academy?
The selection process begins with open qualifying sessions at Silverstone between December 6 and 31, 2026, costing £25 per 15-minute session.
The fastest 80 drivers will advance to a shootout on January 31, 2027, where practice sessions and qualifying races will determine the final 25 participants.
Those selected will compete in an eight-round championship between March and November 2027, using different layouts of Silverstone’s karting circuit.
All championship costs will be covered, including racing equipment such as helmets, overalls, gloves and boots.
The five highest-placed drivers will then face a final assessment in December, testing their driving ability, physical fitness, racecraft and communication skills.
The winner will receive a fully funded karting season in 2028, giving them another opportunity to develop their racing career.
Russell’s own journey began in karting before he won the 2014 BRDC Formula 4 Championship, followed by the GP3 title in 2017 and Formula 2 championship in 2018. He entered Formula 1 with Williams in 2019 before moving to Mercedes in 2022.
The announcement has already inspired a joke among motorsport fans: start at Russell’s GR63 Academy, move up to the junior categories in LN4 Fusion and, if Formula 1 doesn’t work out, there’s always Max Verstappen’s GT3 racing team. Not a bad backup plan.
Young drivers interested in participating can find details and book qualifying sessions through the official GR63 Academy website.
