Kiwi Karters Join Elite Motorsport Academy
Tweetpress release
Top New Zealand karters Daniel Connor and Arie Hutton will join seven other talented young drivers at this year's Elite MotorSport Academy in Dunedin from 2 to 8 July.
Connor, 18, and Hutton, 17, are both multi-time national champions. Both have competed with success in Australia and Hutton has also achieved strong results at CIK-FIA international events in Asia.
Above: Daniel Connor
pic - Fast Company/Greg Henderson
The Elite Academy, established in 2004 by the MotorSport Scholarship Trust, has proved successful in preparing New Zealand’s top race and rally talent for domestic and competition, with famous alumni including former kart and now GP3 race winner Mitch Evans, and rally ace Hayden Paddon.
Physical fitness, nutrition, promotional abilities, media skills, psychometric and mental performance are all developed at the Academy, run by Excellence in Sport NZ South Island and the School of Physical Education at Otago University.
This year’s group includes drivers from Suzuki Swift, Formula Ford, Formula First, V8 Utes and Kart classes.
MotorSport New Zealand President Shayne Harris says this year’s athletes are all gifted drivers, who have excelled throughout the season.
Above: Arie Hutton
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes
“We have an exciting bunch of young drivers selected, who have all performed exceptionally well in their respective classes,” said Harris. “I’m sure they will all hugely benefit from the experience.”
Joining Aucklanders Connor and Hutton on the course this year will be A J Lauder from Turua, Tom Barker and Tom Alexander from Christchurch, Matthew Higham and Chris Hanley from Auckland, Michael Scott from Te Puke and Mark Gibson from Taupo.
