Motorsport fans in Staffordshire are being urged to back a rising driving prodigy from the county who is racing towards the big time at a prestigious academy founded by F1 supremo Christian Horner and his family.
Jay Leverton, 14, is already a successful go-kart racer and is stepping towards the big time training on F4 simulators at Arden Motorsport, where the “Young Racing Driver Academy… provides a unique pathway from karting all the way to Formula One.”
Christian Horner, who raced for Arden in the team’s early years, is now Team Principal and Chief Executive for the Red Bull Formula One Team, whilst his father Garry and brother Jamie continue to oversee Arden’s racing and commercial operations.
Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has led the Red Bull team to six constructors’ championships and three drivers’ world titles for Max Verstappen.
Jay’s journey towards his dream started in 2021 when he joined the Teamsport Indoor Karting Cadet Academy.
He won the 2022 and the 2023 BIKC (British Indoor Karting Championships) local finals. His journey into outdoor karting began with podium finishes at Daytona in Tamworth, GYG in Wales, Hooten Park in Ellesmere Port, Fulbeck and Rowrah in Cumbria. As a taste of what’s to come he was named Total Karting Zero Junior Northern Champion in 2022.
2023 saw Jay successfully compete in his own junior rotax in the National Karting Cup Championship and the Superone Series.
Specialist tutors at Arden Motorsports YRDA immediately saw Jay’s potential and natural ability for racing. He’s made an impressive start to 2024 learning in the team’s hi-tech F4 simulator under some of racing’s elite driver coaches .
Jay, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent said: “My dream and ambition is to make it into F1 racing. I am under no illusion that my journey is going to be tough and involve a lot of dedication and hard work both mentally and physically.”
Steve Hutchinson, YRDA Director and Simulator Coach, said: “For someone who hasn’t been in the programme for very long, Jay has shown remarkable progress in the simulator here at the YRDA.
“We are very optimistic about his prospects, and as a result we are now planning to bring forward his actual test in a GB4 car to this summer. We are looking forward to seeing him progress. An outstanding talent.”
Businesses can sponsor Jay through a unique racing-focused set of packages.
Contact Erin Leverton on 07825 153150 for a sponsors information pack and more information.
