Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has launched the GR63 Karting Academy, a new initiative in partnership with Silverstone and the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) aimed at finding and developing the next generation of motorsport talent. Russell said karting was where his own career began and that it taught him the fundamentals he has relied on since, adding that he wants to give back to a sport that gave him so much. The academy is open to boys and girls aged eight and nine, based at Kart Silverstone, and is designed for young drivers who may not have the budget needed to progress through the sport.

The programme follows a four-stage path to the top. It begins with open-access arrive-and-drive qualifiers at Silverstone in December, where entry costs £25 per session. The 80 fastest drivers advance to the GR63 Shootout on 31 January, where the cost rises to £75. From the third stage onwards everything is fully funded. Russell will identify 25 drivers to compete in the GR63 Championship, an eight-round series run at Kart Silverstone from March to November 2027, with the top five progressing to a final assessment in December. Assessment in that final stage covers talent, lap times, fitness, race craft and media skills, and the winner receives a fully funded karting season in 2028. Competitors wear Russell's signature blue kit.S1S2

Russell said the initiative is intended to help break down financial barriers, noting how hard it is for talented young drivers to get a first opportunity when budgets are tight. BRDC president David Coulthard, the former McLaren and Red Bull driver, said the club has long reinvested in British motorsport and nurtured home-grown talent, and that the academy reflects that ethos. Russell has said he hopes the scheme will help uncover future Formula 1 talent by offering a more accessible route into competitive karting.S1S2

The launch follows a similar move by McLaren driver and 2025 world champion Lando Norris, who set up his LN4 Legacy Programme in September to unearth young talent. Norris's LN4 Fusion team is confirmed to compete in Formula 2 next season, with a presence in Formula 3, Formula Regional European Championship and Italian Formula 4.S5