BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Matthew Brabham has been selected into the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) Rising Star program for 2013. Rising Stars membership is by strict invitation by the BRDC Rising Star Panel, adding yet another accolade for the young third generation driver, to go along with the Team USA Scholarship Matthew received in 2012.
Active racing drivers of British and Commonwealth nationality are eligible from their 14th to 24th birthday; the BRDC Rising Stars are very much the future of the Club. Scouted from trackside, the BRDC Rising Stars are in effect 'Junior Members' of the Club, all taking their motor racing very seriously and all aiming for a professional career within the sport. From all four-wheel racing disciplines, the Rising Stars represent the BRDC in national championships, and from the races contested while wearing the schemes unique 'blue roundel' it is hoped the Rising Star will graduate to the ranks of Full membership.
Lewis Hamilton and Alex Lloyd are just two success stories from the Rising Star scheme – and with eight national champions from its ranks last season alone, BRDC Rising Stars has a proven track record of selecting only the best of individuals. Once scouted by a member of the 'Rising Stars Panel', the driver is invited to Silverstone for an informal meeting. Following this meeting, the driver will be invited to become a Rising Star, and providing his or her career continues with upward momentum, the ability to stay on the scheme until the year of their 24th birthday. From Formula Ford to Formula 3 from British GT to BTCC, the BRDC Rising Stars will be in action throughout the season, and with BRDC SuperStars adding a second tier to the BRDC 'youth policy', with the BRDC embracing this important sector of the sport – the future of British motor racing is in safe hands.
The new Rising Stars for 2013 are: Matthew Brabham, Josh Cook, Jody Fannin, Jack Goff, Archie Hamilton, Daniel Lloyd and Chris Middlehurst.
"It is a great honour to be chosen for the Rising Star program by the BRDC," a proud Matthew said. "I have heard many stories about the BRDC from my grandpa, and seen some old photos of him receiving awards and attending functions at the club. The history of the BRDC is amazing and to be even a very small part of that is awesome."
About Matthew Brabham:
Matthew was born in Boca Raton, FL USA, and has dual American and Australian nationality. He started racing Karts in Australia at the age of 7, and graduated up to Formula Ford. He moved back to the USA in 2012 and won the USF2000 Championship and Rookie Titles. Matthew also received scholarships from Team USA to compete in three Formula Renault 2.0 races in England, and the Mazdaspeed scholarship to compete in the Pro Mazda Championship, the next step in the "Road to Indy" program. Matthew is currently driving for Andretti Autosport in the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires.