Mercedes-Benz Young Star Driver program.

Mercedes-Benz India’s quest to find the best young driver of 2014 continues as the company has announced the ‘Season II’ of its popular ‘Young Star Driver Program’ in India. Registrations are now open and the finals will be hosted at the Buddh International Circuit Formula One race track in Greater Noida on August 8, 2014.

Through this program, Mercedes-Benz India has created an exclusive platform to support, nurture and launch young talents who can become future race champions. It is open for those between 18 years to 25 years. Aspirants are selected through a nationwide evaluation process based on different criteria like race track training, racing acumen, racing aptitude and accomplishments. The evaluation is done by Indian motor sports champion Vicky Chandhok and his team. Around 24 participants will be shortlisted by the jury who will be adjudged against each other to qualify for the final 6 slots. The elimination rounds will be conducted on August 7 and the grand finale on August 8, 2014.

The winner gets an opportunity of winning a coveted seat in the AMG Driving Academy Pro-Training in Germany, while the runners-up get the popular AMG Driving Academy Basic & an Advanced course in India. The winner also gets to meet Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team driver Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg this year.

The 2013 program of ‘Mercedes-Benz Young Star Driver’ received close to 3200 applications from 48 Indian cities and towns.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India  said that Motorsports is inseparable from Mercedes-Benz. The program, he said offers a unique opportunity for the budding Motorsports talents across the country to showcase and improve their racing skills on international tracks. To assist them would be globally acclaimed trainers.

He further added that Motorsports is increasingly becoming popular in India and the Mercedes-Benz Young Star Driver program aims to act as catalyst for youngsters in embarking into the world of professional motor racing.