George Russell is putting money behind his accessibility talk. The eight-time race winner launched the GR63 Karting Academy at Silverstone, targeting eight- and nine-year-olds across Commonwealth countries in a four-stage funnel built to find talent that can't afford the usual pay-to-play ladder.
Entry costs £25 for stage one, where 80 drivers will be selected. Those 80 compete in a January shootout (£75 entry) to determine the top 25, who get a fully-funded eight-round championship at Silverstone through 2027. The top five from that field compete for a fully-funded 2028 campaign. Russell, who climbed karting's ranks himself, partnered with the BRDC to bankroll everything from stage three forward—tackling what he called the hardest part for young drivers when budgets are tight.
If it works, Russell finds the next Norris or Piastri. If it doesn't, at least he tried something more than the usual driver foundation lip service.
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