Motorsport Australia and the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) are proud to announce Jack Beeton and Gianmarco Pradel as the winners of the 2022 FDA Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program.

The duo were part of a field of 24 talented teenagers from around the region chosen to attend the program at Sepang International Circuit, which saw them undergo a series of intense testing both in and out of a Formula 4 car.

Having made it to the program’s final six, Beeton and Pradel did enough to impress the collection of judges, which included FDA representatives Marco Matassa and Alessendaro Vantini, and ultimately secured a spot at the Scouting World Finals later this month.

Both Australians will now head to Ferrari’s home base in Maranello for the Finals, where they will go up against some of the best young talents from around the world for a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Head of the Academy, Marco Matassa was pleased to welcome both drivers to the FDA Scouting World Finals.

"The FDA Scouting World Finals are very important for us," Matassa said.

"Along with our scouting partners, we have chosen six youngsters from four continents and five countries, based solely on their talent, ability and potential, irrespective of their financial situation.

"I would like to thank Motorsport Australia for organising the Sepang selection event, thus fully activating our scouting programme after the difficult years of the pandemic.

"I can’t wait to welcome Jack and Gianmarco here in Maranello when they tackle our evaluation process.”

For Beeton, the 14-year-old entered the event with little experience in a Formula 4 car, having just graduated from karting where he finished fourth in the 2022 KA4 Junior class.

Beeton’s preparation saw him complete a number of F4 test sessions around the country, as well as regular visits to Focus Driver for a series of sim sessions.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be selected. I am so grateful and humbled the FDA chose me to participate in the World Finals as a representative from the Asia Pacific,” Beeton said.

“Coming out of Sepang, I was quite confident because I felt I had exceeded expectations at the camp. I felt like I drove to the best of my ability, so it was really up to Ferrari and whether they liked me or not.

“Any one of the six could have made it to the top two and we all deserved to go to the World Finals equally, but I am really thrilled to be one of the two that gets to go.

“My expectations for Italy are that it will be an amazing experience no matter what and a great learning opportunity about what it takes to be a F1 driver - of course I am hopeful of making the cut.

“A big thank you to my parents, the Ferrari Driver Academy, Motorsport Australia, Focus Driver for helping me learn the track on a simulator, AGI Sport for helping with my development and everyone along the way who has supported me to this point.

“I am super excited for the FDA Scouting World Finals and I am sure it will bring many opportunities to my career regardless of what the result is.”


Pradel had more success at a karting level in the lead up the event, securing multiple podiums at a national level in senior X30 and Rotax classes.

The 16-year-old also gained a wealth of experience testing and running in a state-level Formula Race Car in the past 12 months, for which he won two races.

“It is a massive privilege to be selected for the Scouting World Finals later this month and it is a huge opportunity for me - one that I am both stoked and thankful for getting,” Pradel explained.

“The fact that I will be going to Italy just a month after I was in Sepang hasn’t really sunk in yet and I am still coming to grips with the idea, but I am excited for what will be an amazing experience.

“For me, I was just focused on doing my best during the Asia Pacific Finals and leaving everything I had there. I feel I did, and I am satisfied with my efforts.

“With that said, I would have been content with just making the top six, but to be selected for the top two and to go to Maranello is an even bigger achievement.

“I don’t have any expectations now – I am just happy to be going and I will just try to keep preparing as much as I can in readiness for the event.

“There is a massive list of people to thank for this, including my parents, Rush Performance, AGI Sport, Motorsport Australia and the Ferrari Driver Academy for this incredible opportunity.”


Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith praised the two boys for their efforts.

“Gianmarco and Jack showed a mixture of pace and lots of raw potential during the three days at Sepang and I believe they were deserving of being selected for Italy,” Smith said.

“I have no doubt these two young boys will make their country proud and will have a serious crack at earning a spot in the Ferrari Driver Academy.

“As for the other 22 drivers, all attendees were highly professional, passionate and mature throughout the week and anyone could have been selected based on their skills.

“I am already looking forward to the 2023 edition and seeing what more this region has to offer.”

The Ferrari Driver Academy Scouting World Finals takes place at Maranello on 24-28 October.