Following on from the first successful Young Driver Programme held in Lebanon in 2016, the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) hosted its second course for budding young drivers in the region earlier this month – supported by funding from the FIA Sport Grant Programme.

More than 25 participants took part in this edition of the training and assessment, many of whom had been on the 2016 inaugural edition, and trainers were pleased to see a great deal of progress had been made by many of the drivers in the interim months.

This year's programme aimed to build on the driver development work started in 2016 and offered a wide curriculum including driving techniques, fitness, career management and media relations. It was led by driver, driver coach and F1 commentator Khalil Beschir and performance coach Simon Fitchett and took place primarily at the RPM karting circuit in Lebanon culminating in a series of races to help the trainers to finalise their decisions on the winners.

The winners were chosen from their performance in the event, by the lead trainers and ATCL Sporting Coordinator Imad Lahoud. They gave points and grades for every class and competition and drivers were also assessed on a one-to-one basis. 65 per cent of the score was awarded for driving on-circuit and in the simulator, and the remaining 35 per cent for the other aspects of the training programme.

The two drivers who came out on top were Christopher Njeim and Rached Ghanem, who like the winners of the 2016 ATCL Young Driver Programme will have the opportunity to travel to the UK in August to test a car from the British F4 Championship, Certified by FIA, as well as receive additional training from do some additional training with Simon Fitchett.

The pair will then go on to assessment for the Renault Academy – undoubtedly a hugely exciting opportunity for any budding young driver.

ATCL Sporting Coordinator Imad Lahoud, said, “First of all I want to thank the FIA and its President Jean Todt, as well as Graham Stoker and Kate Robson for believing in our programme. Since I joined the FIA family my first mission has been to work with the younger generation and help the growth of this sport in the region. We could see from this programme we have lot of young drivers who want to reach a higher level but they did not know how. This program fits great. In the last two days we could see very good potential , maturity from young drivers with the will of succeeding and I am sure our winners will impress abroad as the previous winner did in FIA F4.”

Khalil Beschir added: “In only two days we managed to do lot with the drivers. We were keen in this edition to add the sponsorship and career management classes and more lifestyle (fitness, nutrition and mental training). We also managed to do lot of driving on the circuit and in the simulator. As I always said there is big potential in our region for involvement in motor sport, it can be driving or engineering or other areas, but it needs the right guidance and support and the FIA Sport Grant Programme is just perfect for us at this stage. It is what the region needs, education. The prize of this programme is huge for anyone coming from the MENA region and opens lot of doors, look at our last edition’s winner, he was on the British F4 podium after just two rounds. Again I want to thank Mr Imad Lahoud for his great effort and the FIA of course for making this programme happen. Our next generation has a bright future.