2 Karters Chosen For CAMS Junior Development Program

Two karters have been chosen to be included in the 5 person CAMS Junior Development Program. Canberra's Sean Whitfield (Superkarts) and South Australia's Rhys Newman (Sprint and Superkarts) will join 3 other young motorsport participants at the AIS later this month.

Above & Below: Rhys Newman (being interviewed by media man Mark Jones at the Non-Gearbox Superkart Nationals)

Above & Below: Sean Whitfield

CAMS press release

Following a flood of nominations from all disciplines of motor sport, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd (CAMS) has announced the CAMS Junior Driver Development Program squad members for 2008.

Five of Australia's most promising young motor sport competitors have been selected to attend a specialist training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) later this month.

The program has been specifically designed by CAMS to develop young drivers at the grass roots level of motor sport. Applicants had to meet specific assessment criteria including demonstration of solid results over the past 12 months, and the ability and desire to pursue an international motor sport career.

Participants will undergo professional media training and one-on-one psychology sessions during their stay in Canberra, however much of the program is focussed around developing skills and techniques to assist the up and coming drivers both in and out of the car.

“We aim to provide the drivers with an indication of where they are at physically, the physiological aspects that are placed under the most stress while driving, and how they can condition themselves to better prepare and handle these stresses,” said Dale Chapman, Supervising Senior Physiologist for all forms of Motorsport Physiological testing at the AIS.

“We have been involved with the preparation and development of these athletes since 2001 and during this time we have had 300 various attendees from motor sport and an equivalent number from motorcycling.”

The volume and quality of applicants for the 2008 program was remarkable and despite some difficult decisions during the selection process, CAMS is confident that the selected applicants are all young competitors that will benefit hugely from the Junior Driver Development Program.

The 2008 CAMS Junior Driver Development Program consists of the following squad members:

• Rhys Newman - Super Karts/Sprint Karts
• James Rodda - Rally
• Sean Whitfield - Super Karts
• Rhys Howell - Hillclimb/Sprints/Motokhana/Autocross & Khanacross
• Patrick Hall - Rally/Khanacross & Motorkhana

CAMS President Colin Osborne expressed his support for the program saying, “it provides an invaluable experience for up and coming drivers to take the next step in their motor sport career.

“The attention competitors receive at the AIS in terms of addressing every aspect of their performance is not only beneficial for their development, but also serves as a reward for their hard work and achievement over the past 12 months.”

The intensive three-day camp will take place at the AIS in Canberra from August 25 – 27, 2008.

CAMS would like to thank the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport for their support of the program in 2008.

 

Newman press release

Adelaide’s Rhys Newman has been chosen by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) to join its Junior Driver Development Program.

The 14 year old student was in pit lane at Phillip Island preparing for the 2008 Superkart Nationals on Friday when he received a telephone call from CAMS just prior to his second practice session, informing him of his selection.

“Knowing that there were a large number of applicants Australia wide and from all disciplines of Motorsport I am extremely proud and very honored to be selected for this program” said Newman.

Only five of Australia's most promising young motor sport competitors have been selected to attend a specialist training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).  The program has been specifically designed by CAMS to develop young drivers at the grass roots level of motor sport. Applicants had to meet specific assessment criteria including demonstration of solid results over the past 12 months, and the ability and desire to pursue an international motor sport career.

Newman has backed up his very successful 2007 season with his equally triumphant 2008 campaign by recently putting himself in an unassailable position to win this years South Australian Festival State Cup in the Junior Rotax Max class (Sprint Karting) and taking back to back CAMS Youth Championships (Superkarting).

Newman will travel to Canberra to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) later this month were he will undergo professional media training and one-on-one psychology sessions; however much of the program is focused around developing skills and techniques to assist up and coming drivers both in and out of the car.

“We aim to provide the drivers with an indication of where they are at physically, the physiological aspects that are placed under the most stress while driving, and how they can condition themselves to better prepare and handle these stresses,” said Dale Chapman, Supervising Senior Physiologist for all forms of Motorsport Physiological testing at the AIS.

Earlier this year Newman was awarded a CAMS “Future Star Award” and South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) “Talented Athlete Award”.

Newman’s on track focus now turns to the remaining Junior Rotax Max (sprint kart) races where he can accumulate points towards his National Rotax Rankings.  Newman is currently ranked sixth in Australia.
 
“I am still very much in the frame to represent Australia in the World Rotax Finals in Italy latter this year, but I need to do well at the upcoming meetings and the final event, being the Rotax Nationals which will be held at Melbourne’s Todd Road facility in early September.  However in the mean time, I am really looking forward to attending the AIS,” concluded Newman.

Home