Pirelli Star Drivers nominated for European Shoot Out

Eighteen young drivers have been nominated by their national sporting authorities to contest the European Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out, which will take place from 23-25 October in Freistadt, Austria.

In addition to a driver being nominated by each European country organising either an FIA World Rally Championship or FIA European Rally Championship event, two drivers have also been selected by the Nacam Zone (Central America) and Codasur Zone (South America).

The Pirelli Star Driver scheme is a worldwide search for five young rally drivers from the 2008 and 2009 FIA Regional Championships, with one driver emerging from each of the Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.

Following the European Shoot Out, two competitors will be selected from the European region. The successful drivers from each year will then contest six World Championship rallies the following season in a fully funded Group N or Super 2000 car.

In 2009, the Pirelli Star Drivers will compete in the rallies in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland, Spain and Great Britain. The drivers nominated by their ASNs to compete in the 2008 European Shoot Out are:

Austria: Andreas Aigner
Belgium: Thierry Neuville
Bulgaria: Todor Slavov
Codasur: Zone Victor Galeano
Czech Republic: Martin Prokop
Finland: Jarkko Nikara
France Guillaume: Canivenq
Germany: Hermann Gassner
Ireland: Keith Cronin
Italy: Simone Campedelli
Nacam Zone: Benito Guerra Jr.
Norway: Sveinung Bielvedt
Poland: Michal Kosciuszko
Portugal: Antonio Rodrigues
Spain: Lemes Yeray
Sweden: Patrik Sandell
Turkey: Emre Yurdakul
UK: Adam Gould

The Shoot Out will be run over two special stages, each run three times, one being 75% gravel/25% asphalt (9.59 km) and the other being 100% asphalt (11.2 km). The two winners will be chosen based on their overall performance, irrespective of car and timed results, and part of the selection process will also be an interview held with each driver, in English, to assess their ability to communicate with the media. The panel of judges will consist of former rally drivers and representatives of Pirelli.