James Pull selected for McLaren Performance Academy

At 14, the British kart driver James Pull’s career is going to new levels with two major developments. James has started the 2014 season as an official driver of one of the most prestigious teams in karting, the Tony Kart Racing Team, and has been selected to join the McLaren Performance Academy.

Karting from age 8
Born in Singapore, James Pull debuted in Malaysia in karting at the age of 8. He didn’t take long to gain success in Asia in various categories (Rotax MicroMax, Mini Rok, Yamaha Cadet) before coming to hone his skills in Europe in 2010. James has worked with former World Champion Oliver Oakes since 2010, first running in the colours of Zanardi and Dino Chiesa – who worked with both of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their karting careers – and now with Tony Kart. James started full international competition from the summer of 2012 in CIK-FIA category KF-Junior (formerly KF3) and was 8th in the International Super Cup in England, he was then 14th in the final of the World Championship in Bahrain.

International ambitions in 2014 with Tony Kart
Determined to push forward his career in karting, James signed for the Tony Kart Racing Team in early 2014 and will race in all remaining 2014 CIK-FIA and WSK karting competitions. In addition to high performance equipment and a excellent record in racing, the Tony Kart Racing Team is renowned for its organization. Rigorous testing and ongoing use of collected data characterizes Roberto Robazzi’s team, providing excellent training for the young driver.

Even though he hasn’t driven much in 2014 as a result of a broken thumb, James Pull performed exceptionally well in his first race in early March in Italy, finishing close to the top 10 in the final round of the WSK Champions Cup.

Selection for McLaren Performance Academy

James Pull enters the prestigious McLaren Performance Academy this week, having been selected in a small group of young drivers excelling in all levels of motorsport, from karting and junior categories to world motorsport feeder series.

The newly designed MPA-14 programme will be delivered at McLaren’s UK headquarters in Woking. Building on the success of the 2013 Performance Academy, this year’s course will see an expanded programme for the selected young drivers. The Academy, led by a teams of experts including professionals from the McLaren Formula 1 team, includes a series of educational workshops and physical training sessions that offer a one-of-a-kind insight into the blend of technologies, knowledge and best practice that drive motorsport success.

Speaking about the Performance Academy, Clayton Green, Manager of the Human Performance Programme said: “McLaren Applied Technologies was delighted with the success of the 2013 Performance Academy and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the young drivers who attended. Drawing on McLaren’s unparalleled knowledge and expertise in the field of Formula 1 and performance measurement, the Performance Academy is well-placed to inform, train and inspire the next generation of motorsport champions.“

McLaren Mercedes driver, Kevin Magnussen, said: “As one of McLaren’s past young drivers, I’ve got first-hand experience of the team’s expertise in driver development. Whether it is guidance on nutrition, race preparation or physical fitness, McLaren’s human performance specialists have made a real difference to my progression as a driver, and contributed a great deal to where I am today. The Performance Academy is a unique opportunity for young drivers to tap into the knowledge and experience of Formula 1 experts at a world-famous team.“