After four successful seasons of the Junior Development Scholarship, the Women of Australian Motor sport has again opened applications for the latest 2016/2017 program.
The program offers one up-and-coming female junior driver each season the chance to learn the necessary tools on and off the track to strengthen their chances of a successful career in motor sport, from media training, fitness, sports psychology and potentially CAMS Academy camps to develop their driving skills.
Past recipients include off-road racer Kristy Hedley (2012/13), open-wheel and now European GT4 series racer Caitlin Wood (2013/2014), WA state Formula Ford driver Tayla Dicker (2014/2015) and outgoing recipient Alexandra Whitley (2015/16).
Driving the #06 Waikato SsangYong, Whitely – originally from Toowoomba, Queensland – recently finished an impressive sixth overall out of 45 drivers in the SsangYong Actyon Racing Series Championship in New Zealand with results over the last two seasons including race and round wins. Tests in V8 Utes, speedway and karts are also on the cards in the near future.
Caitlin Wood, who progressed from karts to Formula Ford while on the WAMS JDS program, now is having strong success representing Australia in the European GT4 Series and currently leads the ladies Championship in the Reiter Young Stars Series; an impressive achievement having only contested her first GT race in April 2016.
West Australian Tayla Dicker, another recipient who progressed from karting to state Formula Ford, says despite being busy juggling her racing and finishing Year 12, she is still using the skills she learnt on the WAMS Junior Development Scholarship.
“The biggest thing for me was that the exposure the program gave me meant that I had a lot more people that I didn’t know approaching me at racetracks and asking me questions about the program. This forced me to learn how to better talk to and engage with people I don’t know, who sometimes are prospective sponsors! Talking was always something I struggled with but now I feel much more confident,” said Dicker.
“The opportunity to work with Karen Smythe from Speak Up For Sport was very beneficial for my ability to approach sponsors and people in general. I’d never had any proper public speaking or media training before and I learnt so much in the very short time I spent with her. I also found just the exposure was invaluable as it got my name out to a wider audience and gained interest that consequently lead to some sponsorship.
“But generally the support from the women at WAMS, it’s amazing to have the support from very experienced women in the sport and can provide the best advice,” concluded Dicker.
To be eligible for the 2016 JDS program, applicants must be:
• A female racing driver who holds a current KA or CAMS competition licence
• Aged between 15 and 24 years as at July 1, 2016 (Parental consent required for applicants under 18 years of age)
• Available to travel for the fitness camp
• Able to provide minor WAMS signage on their vehicle/suit
• Willing to display a WAMS banner at entered events (where possible)
• Willing to provide regular progress updates throughout the year
To apply, applicants must complete the Application Form (link below) and return via email to info@wams.org.au, along with a recent photo of yourself and a copy of your competition licence, by 5pm AEST on Sunday 12 June, 2015.
Application Form (pdf)
Application Form (doc)
The WAMS selection panel will review all applications and select a winner at their discretion. The selection panel will include experienced drivers and motor sport personnel. In the unlikely event that no applicant is considered suitable, WAMS is under no obligation to carry through with the scholarship for the dates listed above and reserves the right to extend the application period or re-open applications at a later date. The committee’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
