Queensland kart racer, Charlotte Page will head to Italy next month for the first of six events as a driver representing the F1 Academy in the Champions of the Future Academy Program, which begins in Cremona, Italy over March 27-31.
The 14-year-old from Ipswich in Queensland will join the six-event international competition. The F1 Academy is backed by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team, counting Susie Wolff (wife of AMG F1’s Team Principal - Toto) as its Managing Director.
“I applied for the scholarship late last year and then they let us know via a text message at 4:30 am in the morning,” said Charlotte. “It happened that I was up when the message came through and it is something that’s so exciting. I am looking forward to getting to Italy next month and taking part.”
Page started racing in 2019, following in her father’s footsteps. She is from a family of five girls. The Champions of the Future Academy Program is a series of six events, consisting two in Italy, one in Spain and three in the Middle East - taking in the UAE, Abu Dhabi and at a yet to be announced venue.
Page is one of nine female drivers selected by the F1 Academy. As part of being successful in obtaining the scholarship, Page receives a discount to the Series entry and has the right to be branded with the program’s logo.
Karting Australia Chief Executive Officer, Kelvin O’Reilly congratulated Page and said that it was testament to the commitment of Karting Australia to develop young talent for not only the local but the global stage.
“Part of Karting Australia’s strategic plan has been to assist in developing Australian talent with one of our objectives being to increase female participation,” said O’Reilly. “We enter the tenth year of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship this year. The first AKC round winner in the category that Charlotte is racing in - KA2 - was Oscar Piastri. Its Champions in the past have also been Jack Doohan (Alpine F1 reserve driver) and Broc Feeney (Red Bull Ampol Racing Supercars driver).
“This year, we launched the Girls Race Too entry-level program - a free, two-day program purely for girls interested in racing. The second Girls Race Too event will take place in April at Greater Sydney Kart Club in Western Sydney. This weekend at the opening round of the Australian Kart Championship, there are no less than 14 female racers - including twins from Singapore who are making their Championship debuts.”
All equipment in the Champions of the Future Academy Program is centrally managed by event organisers - RMGCC - and distributed at each event on a ballot basis using a KR chassis and IAME engine, with drivers using OMP race gear.
All consumables (fuel, lubricants, tyres etc.) are provided for each competitor in the category (scholarship recipients and general entrants), effectively meaning drivers can turn up with their mechanic and participate. It will be livestreamed globally and the F1 Academy will distribute extensive video and television content around the scholarship participants.
More information about Karting Australia, the Girls Race Too program and the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship can be found at www.karting.net.au.
The dates of the Champions of the Future Academy Program are as follows:
Round 1: 27-31 March / Cremona, Italy
Round 2: 10-12 May / Valencia, Spain
Round 3: 26-28 July / Franciacorta, Italy
Round 4: 04-06 October / Middle East *
Round 5: 15-17 November / United Arab Emirates *
Round 6: 02-04 December / Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi