Downton Young Driver Academy

Page last edited 342 days ago
From F1 Fanatic Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
23px-Flag of the United Kingdom.svg-1-.png Downton Young Driver Academy
Downton Logo 2020.png
Founded 2013
Base Amesbury, Wiltshire,
United Kingdom
Founder(s) Bradley Downton
Operated by Downton
Total number
of drivers
11
Junior Series Titles
VWRS 2 (2015, 2021)
FV2 Series 2 (2015, 2016)
VERS None
VARS None
VOARS None
FV3 Series 1 (2018)

The Downton Young Driver Academy (DYDA) is an academy for drivers who are supported by the Downton Formula Virtual team in an attempt to find drivers suitable for potential future careers in the Formula Virtual series.

The academy has a proven track record with it's first product Marcus Thunder making it to the Formula Virtual series in a race seat for Downton themselves. Thunder scored his first podium at the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix, when he was on loan to Mathershaw, then his first victory two seasons later at the 2015 Brazilian V-Prix; driving for Downton.

Current drivers

Driver Years Current Series Titles
23px-Flag of Spain.svg-1-.png Sergio Meléndez 2022– Virtual European Racing Series N/A
23px-Flag of the United States.svg-1-.png Stew Alexander 2023– Virtual World Racing Series 2022 VARS

Graduates to Tier One

Driver Junior Team experience Tier One experience with Downton Tier One experience with other teams
Years Former series
23px-Flag of the United Kingdom.svg-1-.png Marcus Thunder 2013 N/A Formula Virtual 20132016
eVirtual 2022
Formula Virtual Mathershaw (2013)
IndyVirtual Formation Competition (2017-2018)
Formula Virtual Lucas (2019-2021)
Formula Virtual Kōwhai (2023-present)
23px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg-1-.png Jochem van Snelheid 2013–2014 FV2 Series (20132014) N/A Formula Virtual Lopez (2016)
Formula Virtual Franklin (2017)
Formula Virtual Ocelot (2017)
IndyVirtual Vroom Autosport (2018)
eVirtual Tesla Motors
Formula Virtual (reserve) Westwood
eVirtual Arrow (2021)
eVirtual Formation Competition (2022)
23px-Flag of the United Kingdom.svg-1-.png Kiara Thunder 2014–2015 FV2 Series (20142015) N/A Formula Virtual Holmqvist (20162017)
IndyVirtual Grip Autosport (2017)
IndyVirtual Vroom Autosport (2018)
Formula Virtual Franklin (2020)
Formula Virtual (reserve) Franklin (2021)
eVirtual Fusion Elite (2021)
eVirtual Renault (2022)
23px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg-1-.png Klaas van Snelheid 2015–2016 Virtual World Racing Series (2015)
FV2 Series (2016)
2017–present N/A
23px-Flag of Italy.svg-1-.png Matteo Zetticci 2018–2019 Virtual Americas Racing Series (2017)
FV3 Series (2018)
Virtual World Racing Series (2019-2021)
Formula Virtual (reserve) 20202021
Formula Virtual 2022-present
N/A
23px-Flag of Jamaica.svg-1-.png Spencer James 2020–2021 Virtual Americas Racing Series (2019)
Virtual European Racing Series (2020)
Formula Virtual (reserve) 2022–present N/A

Former drivers

Driver Years Series Competed
23px-Flag of the United Kingdom.svg-1-.png Dino Palma 2013 FV2 Series (2013)
23px-Flag of China.svg-1-.png Qing Xun Zhao 2016 FV3 Series (2016)
23px-Flag of Cyprus.svg.png Ellie-Mae Theodoulou 2021 VARS (2020)