The participants for the 2023 Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) – Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program have been confirmed for next month’s prestigious event.
 
Following an application process that saw more than 100 aspiring drivers apply, 25 of the best young talents from around the region were selected and will now make their way to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia to take part in the five-day program.
 
The program will see each participant undergo rigorous testing both in the car and out, before two drivers are invited to the FDA’s Scouting World Finals in Maranello, where they will go up against drivers from other regions for a potential place in the FDA next year.
 
Highlighting the international diversity of the selection program, representatives from six different countries feature in the top 25, including China, South Korea and the Philippines, while there will once again be participants representing India, New Zealand and Australia.  
 
On the entry list are a couple of familiar names who attended last year’s event, including James Piszcyk, Lincoln Taylor and Kristen Janev.
 
With Motorsport Australia once again tasked with running the regional program in conjunction with the team at the FDA, Motorsport Australia’s Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith said the event was poised to be a great success. 
 

“We’re looking forward to hosting 25 of the best young drivers from the Asia Pacific region at Sepang and giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills, as well as develop their skills through our rigorous academy program,” Smith said.
 
“It’s particularly exciting to see more drivers from outside of Australia as part of this year’s FDA selection program, highlighting the ability for this program to develop and find the best young talent from our region.
 
“We can’t wait to meet all the drivers and their families in Sepang in September and look forward to seeing them all grow their skills both on and off track as part of the highly renowned FDA selection program.”
 
The program will begin on Saturday 23 September, where participants will spend two days completing seat fittings and a track walk, as well as undergoing meetings with their engineers and the event staff.
 
Official testing will then begin on Monday 25 September, where the candidates will showcase their skills behind the wheel of the Tatuus FIA F4-T421, as well as completing fitness testing and media and sponsorship sessions. 
 
The top six drivers will then be selected to take part in the final day of the program on Wednesday 27 September, where they will get one last chance to impress FDA and Motorsport Australia representatives for a spot in the FDA’s Scouting World Finals at the end of October.
 
The Ferrari Driver Academy – Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program takes place at Sepang International Circuit on 23-27 September.
 

Selected Candidates

Giancarlo Artho – Victoria, Australia
Peter Bouzinelos – Victoria, Australia
Pip Casabene - Victoria, Australia
Arjun Chheda - India
Yuhao Fu - China
William John Riley Go - Phillipines
Loclan Hennock – Queensland, Australia
Kristian Janev - Victoria, Australia
Ruiqi Liu - China
Ryan MacMillan - Queensland, Australia
Sebastian Manson - New Zealand
Hayden Millington - Victoria, Australia
Kamal Mrad – New South Wales, Australia
Brodie Norris - Queensland, Australia
Jaden Pariat - India
James Piszcyk – South Australia, Australia (pictured above)
Dominic Penman - Queensland, Australia
Rishon Rajeev - India
Zhelin Shen - China
Ha Rim Song - Korea Republic of (South Korea)
Nicolas Stati – Western Australia, Australia
Jack Taylor – Tasmania, Australia
Lincoln Taylor - Queensland, Australia
Joel Wheeler - Western Australia, Australia
Enzo Yeh - China