Elite MotorSport Academy
The Elite MotorSport Academy is a world-renowned development program for motorsport competitors in New Zealand. Young competitors from all aspects of the sport are put into a 12-month academy program, starting with a weeklong ‘camp’ in Dunedin.
The academy has fostered young talent who regularly make headlines around the world for their achievements. Shane van Gisbergen, Hayden Paddon, Mitch Evans, Brendon Hartley, Richie Stanaway and more recently Marcus Armstrong have all received training through the academy.
The Elite Motorsport Academy aims to:
- To provide a one-week intensive “in camp” programme of physical and educational training assistance package for up to nine MotorSport New Zealand recognised Race or Rally competitors who have already demonstrated the ability to excel in their chosen motorsport discipline.
- To provide a tailored twelve-month follow-up package for the academy graduates to ensure they retain and further develop the training regimes and educational opportunities demonstrated “in camp’.
Those chosen to attend will live “in camp” for the duration of the Elite Academy and in addition to the personal development thrust of the programmes will undertake a number of team building activities. These activities will be awarded points with recognition at the end of the camp to the team scoring the highest.
Soon after arrival “in camp” attendees will be assessed on components of their personal fitness relevant to being an elite driver. Components to be assessed will include:
- Strength
- Endurance
- Flexibility
- Heat stress tolerance
- Reaction time
- Visual abilities
- Muscle balance/posture
Workshops covering sport psychology, nutrition, data analysis, public speaking/media skills, motorsport regulations and procedures as well as daily physical training routines will provide an all-encompassing week of learning designed to test and sometimes stretch attendees’ mental and physical limits.
During the course of the week, all attendees will develop a sponsorship proposal, which they will have five minutes to present verbally to a panel of judges on the last day of the Academy. The format is not too dissimilar to the TV programme “Dragons Den”.
2024 Applications have now Closed
ELITE ACADEMY GRADUATES
Class of 2024
Winner: TBD
- Jacob Douglas (camp winner)
- Ben Stewart
- Bryn Jones
- Jacob Begg
- Hunter Robb
- Mason Potter
- Will Kitching
- Zach Blincoe
Class of 2023
Winner: Ayrton Hodson
- Zeal Jones (camp winner)
- Tom Bewley
- Clay Osborne
- Bailey Cruise
- Ayrton Hodson
- Blake Knowles
- Ari Pettigrew
- Dion Pitt
Class of 2022
Winner: Troy Pennington
- Troy Pennington (camp winner)
- Marco Giltrap
- Robbie Stokes
- Sebastian Manson
- Zac Christensen
- Hayden Bakkerus
- Jackson Clendon
- Hugo Allan
Class of 2021
Overall Winner: James Penrose
- James Penrose (Camp winner)
- Flynn Mullany
- Jordan Grant
- Brock Gilchrist
- Matthew McCutcheon
- Liam Sceats
- Jack Hawkeswood
- Jack Noble-Adams
Class of 2019
Overall winner: Ronan Murphy
- Ronan Murphy (camp winner)
- Conrad Clark
- Thomas Boniface
- Joshua Bethune
- Breanna Morris
- Katrina Renshaw
- Ryan Wood
- Zac Stichbury
Class of 2018
Overall winner: Peter Vodanovich
- Callum Crawley (camp winner)
- Billy Frazer
- Callum Hedge
- Bailey Paterson
- Matthew Podjursky
- Jaden Ransley
- Brock Timperley
- Peter Vodanovich
Class of 2017
Winner: Jordan Baldwin
- Sarah Brennan
- Arran Crighton
- Jack Williamson
- Reece Hendl-Cox
- Samantha Gray
- Jordan Baldwin
- Kaleb Ngatoa
- Job Quantock
Class of 2016
Overall winner: Jacob Smith
- Jaxon Evans, Gold Coast
- Connor Adam
- Alexandra Whitley
- Michael McLean
- Brock Cooley
- Kieran Anstis
- Jacob Smith
- Hunter McElrea
Class of 2015
Overall winner: Michael Young
- Sam Barry
- Caleb Cross
- Chelsea Herbert
- Bradley Lathrope
- Brook Reeve
- Nicole Summerfield
- Michael Young
- Malcolm Read
Class of 2014
Winner: Jamie Conroy
- Marcus Armstrong
- Taylor Cockerton
- Jamie Conroy
- Drew Donovan
- Faine Kahia
- Liam MacDonald
- Lance Williams
- Ryan Yardley
Class of 2013
Overall winner: James Munro
- Ethan Coleman
- Rowan Shepard
- David Holder
- James Munro
- Christopher “CJ” Sinclair
- Rhys Gardner
- Brendon Leitch
- Callum Quin
- Reid Harker
Class of 2012
Overall winner: Mark Gibson
- A.J. Lauder
- Tom Barker
- Tom Alexander
- Matt Higham
- Michael Scott
- Mark Gibson
- Chris Hanley
- Arie Hutton
- Daniel Connor
Class of 2011
Winner: Tarryn Cox
- Tarryn Cox
- Daniel Kinsman
- Jason Farmer
- Andre Heimgartner
- Matt Summerfield
- Kyle George
- Hayden Pedersen
- Sarah Coatsworth
Class of 2010
Overall winner: Andrew Vincent
- Andrew Vincent
- Will Bamber
- Stephen Barker
- Matt Lockwood
- Mathew Jansen
- Aaron Hodgson
- Daniel Jilesen
- Alex Kelsey
Class of 2009
Overall winner: Josh Marston
- Joshua Marston
- Simon Evans
- Mitch Evans
- Ben Jagger
- Nick Cassidy
- Matthew Penrose
- Damon Letich
- Jamie McNee
- Martin Short
Class of 2008
Overall winner: John Whelan
- John Whelan
- Patrick Malley
- Michael Burdett
- Sloan Cox
- Stefan Webling
- Richie Stanaway
- Kirsty Nelson
- Courteny Lectca
- Kieran Hall
Class of 2007
Overall winner: Ant Pederson
- Anthony Pedersen
- Jono Lester
- Alastair Wootten
- Earl Bamber
- Caine Lobb
- Dean Sumner
- Dominic Storey
- Greg Teece
Class of 2006
Overall winner: Sam MacNeill
- Sam MacNeill
- Hayden Paddon
- Erin Kyle
- Grant Crosby
- Nic Jordan
- Marc Williams
- Andrew Waite
- Michael Bristow
Class of 2005
Overall winner: Brendon Hartley
- Lee Anne Barnes
- Andrew Higgins
- James Holder
- Brendon Hartley
- Matthew Hamilton
- Daniel Gaunt
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Ben Harford
- Emma Gilmour
Class of 2004
Overall winner: Nelson Hartley
- Tim Martin
- Nelson Hartley
- Mark Tapper
- Chris Pither
- Sarah Randell
- Taryn Kugener
- Andy Knight
- Christina Orr
- Shane Watkin
- Tim Edgell