At the SRO Prize Giving Ceremony in London, SRO Motorsports Group announced the creation of the Sean Edwards Trophy. From the 2015 season, this trophy will give talented young drivers the possibility to develop their careers in GT racing. Organised within the Pro-Am category of the Blancpain Sprint Series, the Sean Edwards Trophy comes with a cheque of 100.000 euros attached.
SRO Motorsports Group already has a tight collaboration with the Sean Edwards Foundation to increase security for amateur and rookie drivers. To further honour Edwards’ talent, at age 19 the first-ever winner of the FIA GT3 European Championship, SRO Motorsports Group has now created the Sean Edwards Trophy, in order to help another talented young driver to make the step to the next level.
The Sean Edwards Trophy will be organised within the Pro-Am category of the Blancpain Sprint Series and is reserved for drivers under 25, categorised Bronze or Bronze*. These drivers will race together with a professional (i.e. Gold or Platinum) driver, to help them to get to grips with the skills needed in high-level GT racing. There will be a separate classification for the drivers who qualify for the Sean Edwards Trophy.
Besides the trophy, the winner will also receive a cheque of 100.000 euros, which he or she will use to progress to the Silver Cup for a second season in the Blancpain Sprint Series. This sum comes on top of the prize money which was already available at each race of the Pro-Am Trophy this season.
Daphne McKinley (Founder and Chairman of Sean Edwards Foundation) : "One of Sean’s passions was mentoring aspiring, talented drivers to help them improve their skills and speed. SEF will continue his passion in developing young drivers into top athletes and on to racing excellence paying particular attention to instilling Sean’s attitude, education of racing skills and safety standards. SEF and SRO Motorsports Group have formed a tight collaboration. At SEF we believe it is important that young drivers have something to aspire to. We are therefore delighted that the SRO Motorsports Group will honour Sean by awarding The Sean Edwards Trophy for a driver that shows the talent, attributes and attitudes of Sean."
Stephane Ratel (CEO and founder of the SRO Motorsports Group): “Within SRO Motorsports Group we find it important that young talented drivers get the opportunity to advance their careers. In 2014 we have seen a lot of new faces in the Blancpain GT Series, youngsters willing to try to make it to the top of GT racing. By creating the Sean Edwards Trophy, we will give the best of them the necessary support to continue climbing the steps of the racing ladder. It would make us very proud if we could discover a young driver with similar talent as Sean’s and help him to develop his career.”
2015 Blancpain Sprint Series Calendar
18th - 19th March: Official Blancpain Sprint Series Test Days Misano
4th - 6th April: Nogaro (FRA) – Sprint
9th - 10th May: Brands Hatch (GBR) – Sprint
5th - 7th June: Zolder (BEL) - Sprint
3rd - 5th July: Moscow City (RUS)** - Sprint
4th - 6th September: Algarve (PRT) – Sprint
2nd - 4th October: Misano (ITA) – Sprint
24th – 25th October: Baku World Challenge (AZE) - Sprint
** Pending event promoter agreement