George Russell launches GR63 Academy, a new karting pathway for young racers set to begin in 2027

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

George Russell has launched the GR63 Academy, a new karting initiative created to find and support young racers with the goal of helping them build toward higher levels of motorsport. Russell said karting was where his own career began and credited it with teaching him “the fundamentals of racing,” adding that he wants to “give back to a sport that gave me so much.” The academy is scheduled to officially launch in 2027.

The selection process starts with open-access Arrive & Drive Qualifiers at Silverstone in December, as set out on the academy’s official website. Children aged eight or nine can take part for £25 per qualifying session. From those early rounds, the structure calls for the 80 fastest drivers to progress to a shoot-out at the end of January.

After the January shoot-out, 25 drivers will be selected to compete in the 2027 GR63 Championship, described as a fully funded, eight-round series. The championship is set to be held across different circuit configurations at Kart Silverstone, giving the selected young drivers a structured season rather than one-off events.

Russell’s announcement also included details on how competitors will be equipped and assessed. The drivers selected for the championship will be kitted in “Russell’s signature vibrant blue kit.” The programme’s next stage is linked to performance targets: they will compete to finish in the top five, which would earn a place in a final shoot-out.

In the final shoot-out, the remaining youngsters will be assessed using a broader set of criteria, including “talent, lap times, fitness, race craft and media skills,” according to the academy’s published process. The overall winner will receive a fully funded kart season in 2028, completing the progression route created by the academy.

Russell framed the academy as a more accessible route into competitive karting, with the potential to help uncover future talent for Formula 1. In his post, he said he is aiming to find “hidden stars” and provide the guidance needed for them to reach their potential, particularly given the challenges talented young drivers can face when budgets are tight.

The GR63 Academy also has backing from Silverstone’s operator and the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC). David Coulthard, President of the BRDC, said the club—“as owners of Silverstone and guardians of British motorsport”—has been committed to reinvesting in the sport and nurturing home-grown talent, adding that “the GR63 Academy captures that ethos perfectly.” Coulthard said the BRDC is “delighted to work with George” to support the next generation of drivers at Silverstone. Russell also thanked Silverstone and the BRDC for helping make the initiative happen ahead of its 2027 launch.