Bruckmühl/Woking (UK), 18.03.2014: The long wait was finally over: last weekend, Formula 1 kicked off the new season in Australia, and the podium success of the two McLaren drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button, in particular, brought great joy to junior racing driver Benjamin Mazatis.
The talented junior driver from Bruckmühl in southeastern Bavaria has recently become a supported driver himself in the coveted McLaren Performance Academy 2014 and has now taken part in an initial three-day workshop and fitness programme at the company's headquarters in Woking, England.
„It's an indescribable feeling to now be a part of the McLaren family myself. The turnout for the Academy was huge, but after an extremely rigorous selection process, I was able to qualify for the selected group of 18 participants,“ informed Benjamin Mazatis after his return from England.
The 16-year-old from Bruckmühl showed great interest in the workshops organised by Helene Patounas (F1 Drivers Coach), Ben Chell (British Sailing Team Coach), John Pratt (Driver Coach at iZone – working with Kevin Magnussen, among others) and Simon Reynolds (F1 Driver Coach) on nutrition, fitness, racing technique and performance mindset.
„The three days in Woking were very educational and will certainly help me in my career. The winter break was long, and although I trained a lot in the simulator, I'm really looking forward to finally getting back to it with ADAC Formula Masters testing in Oschersleben at the end of March,“ Mücke Motorsport pilot Mazatis summarises the first event of the McLaren Performance Academy.
McLaren Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen, himself a former ‚McLaren Young Driver‘ and sensationally second in the F1 opener in Melbourne, is also full of praise for his employer’s youth development programme.
„I can say from personal experience that McLaren's guidance and support have helped me immensely. Without it, I would certainly not be in Formula 1 today.“
