AMSF Confirms 2011 CAMS Rising Stars

August 05, 2011

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation (AMSF) has revealed the drivers that will be taking the CAMS Rising Star program into the 2011 state and national championships.

2010 CAMS Rising Star Jack Lebroq will be joined by emerging star Trent Harrison in twin red and white Minda Motorsport vehicles prepared Mygales for the Australian Formula Ford Championships, whilst Rhys Newman, Jon Collins and Callum Mitchell will represent the program in the Victorian State title.

Neither Lebroq or Harrison are strangers to the rigours of the blue ribboned national championships, and both excelled during the closing rounds of the 2010 season - interestingly - both were top five contenders on the tricky streets of Surfers Paradise, one of the toughest circuits on the calendar.

For 2011 a new challenge emerges for the Rising Stars team with the introduction of the Mygale chassis to the Minda Motorsport run operation, something which will play strongly into the hands of Harrison who gained valuable experience with the marque last season.

AMSF General Manager Martin Stillman admitted that he was very excited about the prospects for both Lebroq and Harrison after what was somewhat of a 'rebuilding' year for the program in 2010.

"I am very excited and looking forward to 2011," he agreed. "2010 was a development year for our program and we have high hopes and expectations for all our drivers in 2011 and expect to be battling for podiums throughout the season in both the state and national series.”

"I would also like to extend our thanks and best wishes to our 2010 drivers - Liam Sager, Garry Jacobson and Matthew Brabham for all their endeavours."

Whilst Lebroq and Harrison will carry the flag of the CAMS Rising Stars program into the national series with the familiar red and white Rising Stars livery, Newman, Collins and Mitchell will be hoping they can carry their new black and white AMSF Rookies mounts through to the pointy end of the state championship.

The AMSF Rookies are not strangers to open-wheel competition. Collins comes into the series as the pre-2000 NSW Formula Ford title holder (Formula Ford 1600 cars built prior to 2000), and such was his pace in the series. He was also classified third outright in the overall championship achieving some stunning podium results in the process. Newman too has a strong background in open wheelers as one of South Australia's leading young karters. The 17 year-old also campaigned a number of rounds of the CAMS Aussie Young Gun program during the 2010 Aussie Racing Cars series. Mitchell comes into the program with some very impressive results. Having only 4 years of Karting experience, he will be looking to make a big impression in his maiden season of Formula Ford.

For 2011 though, the focus is on that state title and from there, in the footsteps of Scott Pye, John Martin, Daniel Erickson and Ashley Walsh, a place in the national team and Australian motorsport folklore.

2011 Australian Formula For Championship calendar

Rnd#1 - March 17-20, Clipsal 500, Adelaide, SA*
Rnd#2 - May 20-22, Winton, VIC*
Rnd#3 - July 15-17, Eastern Creek, Sydney, NSW**
Rnd#4 - August 19-21, Queensland Raceway, Ipswich, QLD*
Rnd#5 - September 9-11, Sandown, Melbourne, VIC**
Rnd#6 - September 16-18, Phillip Island, VIC*
Rnd#7 - October 21-23, Gold Coast, QLD*
Rnd#8 - November 11-13, Symmons Plains, TAS*