It has been a huge month for fast rising Southland motor racing star, Alex Crosbie.
Fifteen-year-old Crosbie, a Year 11 student at Southland Boys High School, has spent time in Kuala Lumpur as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy programme as well as experiencing success in New Zealand.
Crosbie, the reigning New Zealand Formula Ford Champion, like many others from the Oceania and Asia-Pacific region applied to be a part of the prestigious academy and was one of just twenty-four, 14 to 17-year-olds selected from New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia to attend. The application process involved listing his motorsport achievements, fitness criteria and answering a series of questions.
Crosbie and his family arrived in Kuala Lumpur the day before the academy activities commenced in late September to become acclimatised. The following day, drivers were split into four groups. Two of the groups had a seat fitting for the Academy’s Formula 4 cars that day and the other two groups had their seat fittings the following day.
The academy activities run by Motorsport Australia officials with two Ferrari engineers present took place at the Sepang International Circuit. The first of three days in camp started with fitness work including a beep test, push ups, a plank test, sit ups, squats and a reaction test followed by a fitness and nutrition presentation and then further presentations on media training and sponsorship.
The following day saw data analysis work in the morning followed by driving on the full loop of the Sepang track in the afternoon. Each driver got 3 hours of running in the Formula 4 cars.
All the drivers were then gathered in a room where the final six were announced. The successful six did a practice, qualifying and race simulation the following day.
While Alex did not make the final six, he says the benefits were enormous. “I learnt heaps. There was a lot to take out of it with aspects such as sponsorship and media being covered. It will all contribute to help further my career. “It was a great opportunity learning different aspects from a background of motorsport.”
Prior to heading to Kuala Lumpur Crosbie also competed in two rounds of the North Island Formula Ford Series in New Zealand. Crosbie had always intended racing at the second round of the series at Pukekohe Park Raceway at the New Zealand round of the Repco Supercar Championship. While racing in front of the Supercars teams and the huge crowds at the event were beneficial in getting his name out there one of his main motivations was to race at the South Auckland track before it closes down next year. It was also a good opportunity for Crosbie to get ready for the South Island Formula Ford Series and the defence of his New Zealand Championship title this season.
A decision was also made to race at the opening round of the North Island Series at Circuit Chris Amon Manfeild, a week prior to Pukekohe to prepare for the South Auckland outing. Both appearances, despite being at tracks new to Alex, proved to be very successful with Crosbie securing results of fourth, second and third at Manfeild to take third overall and second in Class 1 while at Pukekohe Crosbie scored a second, third and first across the three races to take the overall round win.
Winning last year’s Formula Ford title gave Crosbie the opportunity to race in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in the UK but sadly he was too young to take up the opportunity this year.
Nevertheless, the future is looking bright for Alex Crosbie.
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