The 2023 Motorsport UK Academy Co-Driver programme, which aims to train the Co-Drivers of the future, started its year of training with a two-day visit to the famed M-Sport HQ in Cumbria on 30 and 31 March.

The recently announced partnership with the seven-time World Rally Championship-winning team guarantees the new programme cohort will benefit from top level support, industry opportunities and insight.

Across the two days, the candidates heard from speakers who work closely with Co-Drivers. They highlighted the collaborative role Co-Drivers play with on-event engineering and the logistics department, even trying their hand at making travel arrangements for the team attending each WRC round.

The cohort then headed out onto the roads of Cockermouth, using local lanes to practice their Pacenote writing skills. All were expertly guided by Academy Coaches and WRC legends Nicky Grist, Paul Spooner and Seb Marshall.

Providing industry insight has been a big part of the collaboration between Motorsport UK Academy and M-Sport, with on-event work experience opportunities offered to gain first-hand experience of what it takes to operate at the top level of the sport.

Following pitches to the panel comprised of Rich Millener (Team Principal, M-Sport), Nicky Grist (Co-Driver Coach, Motorsport UK Academy) Seb Marshall (Co-Driver Coach, Motorsport UK Academy) and Luke Barry (Deputy Editor, DirtFish), Emily Easton-Page impressed to take the first work experience spot. She will join in the team in Rally Croatia later this month.

On the opportunity, Emily said “I am delighted to be joining M-Sport in Croatia! It is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the leading teams in the WRC and I am very grateful to M-Sport and the Motorsport UK Academy for their support.”