The Motorsport UK Academy was created to provide a performance pathway for the sport’s talented young athletes, giving the nations’ future stars the chance to learn, develop, thrive, and ultimately unlock their full potential. Over the years, it has supported hundreds of young drivers, with Formula E’s Jake Dennis, British Touring Car driver Tom Ingram, and World Rally Championship star Elfyn Evans, among its many successful alumni. More than one hundred athletes are currently on the scheme, here we meet four more young British hopefuls.

Theo Micouris

Born: Bedford, 16th May, 2006

Academy Programme: Team UK Futures

Competes: Ligier European Series

Recent Results:
2024 Ligier European Series Champion
2023 Radical Overall and SR1 Champion

What is your earliest memory of motorsport?
I played lots of Gran Turismo when I was young. I also went to Goodwood throughout my childhood and finished third in a Gran Turismo competition there when I was seven years old, competing against adults and professional drivers.

What has been the highest high in your career to date?
In karting, I won Kartmasters and was the only person to ever do the Grand Slam – and the fact we did it as privateers made it even more special! Then, this year, I became the champion of the Ligier European Series. It has been a bit surreal and made for an incredible start to my European car racing career!

What has been the lowest low in your career so far?
I have had a few heart-breaking moments, mainly due to politics off the track, as well as the influence that money has in this sport. However, every day is still a great day when you’re racing!

What has been the biggest break?
Being selected to represent the UK in the FIA Karting Academy was an immense honour. Thanks to the help and support of Motorsport UK, I got the opportunity to race on the world stage and show what I can do.

What are your aims and when do you want to get there?
I want to make a career in motorsport. Then, ultimately, my dream is to make it to the top step of the podium in Prototype and GT racing, ideally in IMSA or the World Endurance Championship. I just need to continue keep climbing up the ladder with the opportunities I am given.

If you could get career advice from one person in motorsport, who would it be?
It was thanks to my good friend Nick Hart that I got into car racing, and thanks to Simon Stoneham I chose to race in the Ligier European Series this year.

What is the biggest thing you have learned from the Academy?
I have learnt all about key elements that are required in our sport as well as how I can better myself for the top levels. There is so much preparation required off-track, and this is where the Academy really helped me. It’s also great to work with other drivers and help improve each other.

What has been the biggest challenge in 2024?
The greatest challenge occurred before the season started, having to raise the money to get on the grid. It was a big venture for us, but it looks like the gamble paid off!

Abbi Pulling

Born: Lincolnshire, 21st March, 2003

Academy Programme: Team UK

Competes: F1 Academy and selected rounds of British F4

Recent Results:
F1 Academy: Singapore GP – 2 poles, 2 wins;
Zandvoort – 1 pole, 1 win, 1 3rd;
Barcelona – 2 poles, 1 win, 1 second;
Miami – 2 poles, 2 wins; Jeddah – 1 win, 1 second

What is your earliest memory of motorsport?
My dad raced motorbikes, and we were always at a track from about four or eight, maybe even earlier. By the time I was eight, I pestered my dad so much to give it a go myself and he stopped racing for me to start. I didn’t realise at the time how much of a sacrifice that was – but I think he enjoyed being my mechanic just as much.

What has been the highest high in your career to date?
I won two British Karting Championships back-to-back and then joined the Alpine Academy – being recognised by an F1 team is such a privilege for any young racing driver. I drove their 2012 F1 car in Saudi Arabia, making me the first woman to do so in Saudi, and this year has also been so special with lots of success.

What has been the lowest low in your career so far?
In 2021, my dad and I had to stop racing in British F4 because we could no longer fund it. That was heart-breaking, and I thought it was going to be the end of my racing career, but I was so lucky that the W-Series gave me an opportunity to keep my dream alive. However, that series was cancelled in 2022 and I never got to finish my first full season.

What has been the biggest break?
Firstly, having a dad who was so willing to get me into a kart and travel up and down the country most weekends for me to compete. I cannot thank him enough. Then the W-Series being created, as well as F1 Academy – because if these championships didn’t exist, my career would have stopped in 2021. Being picked up by the Alpine Academy and receiving their support over the last three years, and being able to create a relationship with Rodin Motorsport, opening the opportunity to go back to British F4 a couple of years later.

What are your aims and when do you want to get there?
The dream is F1, but that is a very long-term goal, and I could not put a time on that. My main aim is to compete and become a professional racing driver – winning wherever I go. Opportunities in endurance racing, or Formula E, would appeal to me.

If you could get career advice from one person in motorsport, who would it be?
Valentino Rossi. Something my dad has always said to me is to make sure I’m having fun, and I think that comes from Valentino. He always seems to have fun, whatever he’s doing, and even tries lots of different types of motorsports to enjoy and challenge himself.

What is the biggest thing you have learned from the Academy?
One of my most memorable sessions was Max Coates giving us advice on how to brand ourselves and the benefits from it. I took a lot of inspiration from that. Afterwards, I spent more time networking and building my brand.

What has been the biggest challenge in 2024?
This year has been incredible, and I’ve been making sure that I take in every moment. The biggest challenge has been to keep grounding myself and reinforcing my mental work, not
getting ahead of myself and being in the moment. After I pulled a gap in the F1 Academy Championship, to help maintain the performance I worked a lot on the mental side, re-setting every weekend and not having expectations going into the next.

Robbie Sandford

Born: Caerphilly, 3rd January, 2006

Competes: 2023/24 MGJ Circuit Rally Championship; Welsh National Rally Forestry Championship; Cotswold Stage Rally Championship; TCS Plant Rally Challenge, plus the Epynt Rally and Rali Ceredigion.

Academy Programme: Co-Driver

Recent Results:
Castle Combe Stages – 15th;
Rali Ceredigion – 46th;
Mewla Rally – 6th;
Fairfield Merlin Stages Rally – 29th;
Tour of Epynt – 38th

What is your earliest memory of motorsport?
I remember a RallyDay at Castle Combe, where I met WRC stars including Petter Solberg and got to see modern Rally cars and Group B cars including the Audi Quattro, RS200 and Metro 6R4. I spent a lot of time with my dad watching Rallies on tarmac and in the forests around the UK, some of which I have now been able to compete on.

What has been the highest high in your career to date?
Being the ‘chase car’ navigator for last year’s Mille Miglia road race in Italy, which involved reading route books to keep ahead of one of the competing vehicles and managing logistics with other members of the team. Attending and participating in lots of different motorsport events has allowed me to create a network of useful contacts which have provided unique opportunities like that one.

What has been the lowest low in your career so far?
Missing the Hills Ford Rally this year. It was a round of a Championship I was leading and just a day before it, I was struck by a sudden illness that left me drained and unable to compete. I was devastated watching my fellow competitors take the starting line, knowing I was unable to defend my lead.

What has been the biggest break?
Two standout opportunities come to mind. One is competing with Scott Williams Motorsport at Rali Ceredigion this year. Achieving a creditable finish in such a prestigious event was a real highlight. The other was joining the M-Sport World Rally Team on the Acropolis Rally in Greece. I was part of the gravel crew, taking road surface and atmospheric temperature readings for the team to inform tyre choice. Being part of such a skilled team taught me the importance of precision and communication in Rallying.

What are your aims and when do you want to get there?
I aspire to develop my co-driving skills, gaining experience and knowledge to compete at the highest level and hope to achieve this within the next five years. Next year, I would like to compete in a national championship such as the Protyre UK Asphalt and Forestry series, to challenge myself against some of the most famous rallies in the UK, and to compete on the five-day Roger Albert Clark Rally.

If you could get career advice from one person in motorsport, who would it be?
I have been fortunate to be mentored by people who have competed at the very highest level –Nicky Grist, Seb Marshall and Paul Spooner – their guidance has been invaluable. I am also very grateful for the career advice and support that M-Sport Team Principal Richard Milliner provided during the Acropolis Rally.

What is the biggest thing you have learned from the Academy?
Understanding the crucial role of a co-driver and how professionals fulfil it with precision and teamwork. Seeing their communication techniques, pace note strategies and ability to adapt under pressure has significantly improved my focus and decision-making before and during rallies. I have become more proficient at anticipating challenges, which allows me to provide better support and guidance to the driver.

What has been the biggest challenge in 2024?
This season I have travelled across the UK to compete in a diverse range of events, meeting some outstanding drivers and competing in various cars, adapting to different handling and performance characteristics, and managing tricky weather and complex terrain.

Gracie Mitchell

Born: Middlesborough, 26th February 2007

Academy Programme: Enhanced DiSE

Competes: FunCup Endurance, Ginetta GT, and C1 Endurance Championships

Recent Results:
Ginetta AM Class, Donington – 3 x 3rd;
C1, Silverstone – 14th;
FunCup Endurance, Brands Hatch – 8th (4th in Class)

What is your earliest memory of motorsport?
When I first tried out driving kart at my local track, Teesside Karting. Having sat with my dad in a twin-seater on holiday, it was instantly something that sparked my interest.

What has been the highest high in your career to date?
Being selected onto the Motorsport UK course in Loughborough. Merging my education with my racing has extended my knowledge and that will really benefit me in my career.

What has been the lowest low in your career so far?
I don’t believe I have had any major disappointing moments because motorsport can be so unpredictable, all you can do is learn and not give up. This year I have been fortunate to
receive support that has allowed me to race in several different categories, but it is tough to find enough funding to commit to a full season in a championship, which is what I am aiming to do in 2025.

What has been the biggest break?
Getting the chance to test and race the Ginetta GTP, which all came about thanks to Ginetta, Shaun Goff from Optimum Motorsport, my family and all those who have helped out. To finally try out a proper race car with the track control and ABS was a dream and I loved every second of it.

What are your aims and when do you want to get there?
To make a career out of motorsport as a driver. My goal is to compete in the F1 Academy Championship before I am 25, but ideally within the next three years.

If you could get career advice from one person in motorsport, who would it be?
Fernando Alonso. He has so much experience in F1 and other categories. He would have the most knowledge about all areas of motorsport as he has been there and experienced it.

What is the biggest thing you have learned from the Academy?
The importance of nutrition and knowledge of the types of foods we should be eating as drivers to maximise our health for performance. I have also taken a bigger interest in the mechanical aspects of motorsport through motor vehicle practical courses and that has helped me develop my understanding of the cars.

What has been the biggest challenge in 2024?
This is my first season in cars, and it has been a huge learning experience with so many things achieved. I still am still pushing to find the funding to not only compete a full season but to continue my career. However, I strongly believe it will all fall into place because of how helpful and welcoming the motorsport world is.