Some 11 of the talented young racing drivers who passed their IAM RoadSmart advanced driving tests at the charity’s #FormulaDriveSmart event late last year have announced their motorsport programmes for 2019; many having graduated to new teams and exciting new series.

The drivers, all between the ages of 18 and 24, are part of the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s (BRDC) Rising Stars and SuperStars programmes, which supports the brightest young racing talent in the UK today.

At the end of last year the racers all took part in #FormulaDriveSmart, a two-day programme run by IAM RoadSmart and the BRDC at Silverstone circuit, where they were trained in the IAM RoadSmart advanced course to full test standards. At the end of the course they all passed their advanced driving test with flying colours.

The purpose of #FormulaDriveSmart was to demonstrate to young men under 25 years old (the biggest at-risk group sector on the roads; contemporaries to the professionals taking part in the exercise) that advanced driving was not only relevant to them, it could also be fun and could save a life one day.

Now the racers are not only taking their advanced skills only onto the public roads, but also onto the race track too for the new season.

Mike Quinton, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “The drivers did themselves proud in all passing their advanced tests. They all said how what they learned will not only help them drive safer and smarter on public roads, but also help their skills, planning and anticipation on the track too.

“Everyone at IAM RoadSmart wishes them the best of luck in their 2019 racing programmes. We look forward to them bringing home the silverware!”

This is what our new advanced drivers have planned for 2019:

Jordan Albert (Silverstone, Northamptonshire): McLaren GT reserve driver

Max Coates (Richmond, N Yorkshire): Renault UK Clio Cup with Team HARD

James Dorlin (Barnsley, S Yorkshire): British GT Championship with Tolman Motorsport in the McLaren 570S GT4

Raoul Hyman (Ealing, London): FIA Formula 3 Championship with Sauber Junior Team

Stuart Middleton (Ashington, Northumberland): European Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship with Bonaldi Motorsport

Jack Mitchell (West Kingsdown, Kent): British GT Championship with Century Racing in the BMW M6 GT3

Sandy Mitchell (Forfar, Angus): Blancpain GT Series with Barwell Motorsport; Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship with Wayne Taylor Racing

Seb Morris (Porthmadog, Gwynedd): Blancpain GT Series with Team Parker Racing; British GT Series with JRM; Spa 24 Hours, all with Bentley

Toby Sowery (Melbourn, Northamptonshire): Indy Lights debut with BN Racing

Bobby Thompson (Hornchurch, Essex): British Touring Car championship with Team HARD in the Volkswagen Passat

William Tregurtha (Milton Keynes, Bucks): VLN Endurance Championship in Germany with Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW plus Nurburgring 24-hour race.