Motorsport UK’s search for the first FIA Rally Star continues with the National Final this weekend (23 October) at the organisation’s new headquarters in the heart of ‘Motorsport Valley’.

Organised by the FIA in partnership with its member clubs, the global talent detection programme aims to find the next Sebastien Loeb, Ott Tänak, Sebastien Ogier or Thierry Neuville and has a real ‘grassroots to global’ concept, with qualifiers having already taken place in the UK earlier this year based around the WRC 9 video game on all platforms.

Thirty contestants aged between 17 and 26 years have been invited to Bicester Heritage to compete in the UK National Final.

The final will comprise multiple challenges such as a timed lap around a designated course in a Vauxhall Corsa road car, fitness, and co-ordination testing with a team from Porsche plus a formal media assessment to test each of the three key components required to compete to a professional standard in the discipline.

The judges will then select two competitors to advance to the Continental Final, where they will represent the UK and have the opportunity to drive the LifeLive TN5 Cross Car.

Following that, the competition will intensify as one driver per continent is selected to join the FIA Rally Star team, with a comprehensive coaching and training schedule for each crew. This will include participation in a minimum of six rallies, to prepare for their graduation to the Junior World Rally Championship in 2023.

Three drivers will subsequently be retained for a second season to give them the best shot at securing the title. If any should be successful, the rewards will be steeper still, with a full season in WRC2 utilising a car from the Rally2 category provided to accelerate progression through the ranks.

Coverage of the National Final will be available across Motorsport UK’s social media platforms. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK said: “We’re very excited to welcome the thirty chosen competitors to our headquarters at Bicester Heritage this weekend for the UK’s FIA Rally Star National Final.

“This global scheme launched by the FIA in partnership with its member clubs, offers a real opportunity in an accessible and affordable format for one rising star to make a global impact.

Continuing our legacy of producing world class talent in rallying is a key priority for Motorsport UK, and we’re pleased to lend our support to initiatives such as this.

“I wish all the competitors this weekend the very best of luck and look forward to tracking the progress of our two entries into the Continental Final in the near future.”