Pedersen Tops Academy
Media Release
Monday 16 July 2007
Pedersen
Tops Academy
Anthony Pedersen from Rotorua topped this year’s MotorSport Elite Academy following a week of physically and mentally gruelling tasks.
The academy, unique in the world of motorsport, is organised by the MotorSport New Zealand Scholarship Trust and is run by the Academy of Sport South in Dunedin ably assisted by Otago University Human Performance Centre.
Nine young race and rally drivers spent a week undergoing a range of physical and psychological tests, together with training on nutrition, fitness and presentation skills; all prerequisites for success at the top levels of the sport.
The testing included undertaking tasks requiring sustained high concentration at temperatures over 40 degrees for more than one hour while being subjected to other stimuli intended to divert their attention.
Perhaps the toughest physical test is a race up Dunedin’s Baldwin Street, reputedly New Zealand’s steepest street. The top team of three, comprising Pedersen, Jono Lester (Taupo) and Kayne Lobb (Christchurch) completed the run in 1 min 49 sec as light snow was starting to fall.
The ultimate test of eye hand coordination and multi-tasking is the wombat machine where individuals must drive two joysticks, simultaneously reacting to patterns and bonus tasks on two different TV screens.
Anthony Pedersen’s score on this machine was the highest yet achieved by a student since the Academy was established four years ago. It was equivalent to the best scores ever achieved by air force pilots.
Hot on Pedersen’s heels for overall honours was Jono Lester with Alastair Wootten (Auckland) third.
The level of fitness of the students entering the academy was the highest ever recorded, chairman of the Scholarship Trust and president of MotorSport New Zealand Steven Kennedy said.
“Our young drivers have developed an excellent appreciation of the fitness levels required to maintain sustained performance levels and this year’s class were in superb physical condition when they arrived at the Academy.
“The Academy is proving a wonderful asset to the sport, providing a group of promising young competitors opportunities to work at an elite level with some of the best physiologists, nutritionists and physical trainers in the country.
“It
is also allowing the Academy of Sport South along with Otago
University to gather data tracking the development of
motorsport competitors and matching that against the
performance of elite athletes in other sports.”
This
year’s class, selected from 23 applicants,
comprised:
Earl Bamber (Wanganui), raced last season in Toyota Racing Series, current Formula BMW Asia Pacific champion, tested in Europe for Formula Renault and attending college.
Jonathon Lester (Taupo), son and grandson of former racers Richard and Rob, finished fourth in this year’s Porsche GT3 championship and in the process became the youngest driver in the world to win a GT3 race.
Caine Lobb (Christchurch), raced Formula First and Formula Ford, currently working as an assistant racing driver instructor.
Richard Moore (Auckland), former karter, who completed his first season in circuit racing, campaigning a Mini Challenge car and continuing to attend college.
Anthony Pedersen (Rotorua), son of NVZ8s driver Paul Pedersen, former karter who completed his first season in Mini Challenge, currently attending Massey University.
Dominic Storey (Auckland), former karter, contested Formula BMW Asia Pacific championship in 2006 with several podium finishes, planning to do full season with Toyota Racing Series next summer and attending college.
Dean Sumner (Rotorua), currently competing for a fifth season in the NZ Rally Championship, has already proved a success in the very competitive rally environment.
Greg Teece (Nelson), a competitor in regional rallies, Rally Extreme and the Mainland series and showing considerable talent.
Alastair Wootten (Auckland), former karter and last season’s SpeedSport scholar racing in Formula First and planning to race Formula Ford next season.
ENDS