KX Akademy reveals driver line-up
The KX Akademy has revealed its driver line-up for 2013 on the opening day of this year's AUTOSPORT International
Autosport International
Autosport International is a four-day event motorsport event that includes a two-day trade show for industry professionals and a two-day public show.
The scheme, led by two-time British Touring Car champion Jason Plato, will support seven drivers: Stefan Hodgetts, Tom Ingram, Daniel Lloyd, Sam Tordoff, Rob Boston, Luke Herbert and Ant Whorton-Eales across a variety of championships on the British TOCA package.
Speaking on the AUTOSPORT stage with KX on Thursday morning, Plato said: "There's a lot of schemes out there to help single seater guys but there isn't anything really to help saloon or GT drivers.
"So we put together an academy, looking up and down the world of motorsport and club racing, and we've got seven very talented guys who we want to assist."
Plato explained that the KX Akademy was not simply a funding scheme for drivers.
"The funding we put in is a budget top-up," he said. "It's an amount that will make the difference to their season.
"What we don't want to be doing is paying for their whole drive. There's thousands of people in motorsport with no money, and if you've got no backing it doesn't matter how good you are, you're not going to succeed.
"Not only do these guys have to be talented in the car but they have to be shrewd operators. You've got to be sharp, you've got to be a salesman.
"If you haven't got any sponsors, you're not going to make it, and we don't want to back those people."
Plato is the mentor for KX, and he said he is enjoying the opportunity to help young drivers.
"I've learned a lot along the way in my career and it's important for me to give a bit back," he added.
"This is a great opportunity to share some of those things to help these guys in their careers."
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