Winner's Circle

12 Women Drivers Confirmed for Lyn St. James’ Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation 2008/09 Driver Academy

Phoenix, AZ (Nov. 11, 2008) – Twelve young women drivers accepted invitations from Lyn St. James to participate in the 15th class of the Women in the Winner’s Circle (WWC) Foundation Complete Driver Academy, which is a comprehensive educational and training program for talented women race drivers who aspire to the professional levels of motorsports. Entry into the Academy is highly competitive and all women drivers who want to be considered must have raced at least three years, complete the Academy application and provide a documented race resume. The first Academy session is November 14 – 16 at Athlete’s Performance Institute and Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.

The class members in the 2008/2009 WWC Foundation Complete Driver Academy include:

Established in 1994, the Academy has a two-fold purpose: (1) identify potential champion women drivers who have demonstrated success on the track and have a desire to pursue a career in professional motorsports; and (2) create an experience that will provide the tools to further women drivers’ careers in motorsports as well as enhance their lives on and off the track.

“This year’s class continues to show me that there are many talented women drivers in all forms of motorsports,” said Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and Driver Academy founder Lyn St. James. “Collectively, the drivers we selected this year have raced in karts, midgets, sprints, stock cars, sports cars and late models. My goal for these women is for them to get from Academy resources all the tools they need to become successful in motorsports, no matter what Series they choose to race in.”

In 2008, the Foundation moved this ground breaking program from a four-day experience to a full year commitment including three onsite weekends: Weekend 1 – Physical and Mental Preparation; 2 – Business Seminars and Media Training; and 3 – On-track Time and Technical. Each participant leaves the weekend session with a series of assignments and deliverables that must be completed prior to being invited to the next session. Academy staff are available throughout the year to give counsel and support to the participants.

Also in Arizona this weekend, select drivers from the 2007-2008 class were invited to complete their third and final session of the Academy, the on-track road course and technical program, at the Bondurant School at Firebird International Raceway. Last month these drivers attended Finish Line Racing School in Edgewater, FL for oval track training. The drivers completing their final session are:

About Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation:

A strong advocate for women in the motorsports industry, particularly women who aspire to the professional level in racing, Lyn St. James established the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation in 1994, is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to professional development for talented, up-and-coming young women race car drivers.

The Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation currently conducts two primary programs: Project Podium and the Women in the Winner’s Circle Complete Driver Academy. Project Podium is a matching-funds grant program designed to empower promising young female race car drivers and help them further their early professional careers. Since the Academy’s inception, more than 230 women drivers, including Danica Patrick, Erin Crocker, Melanie Troxel and Sarah Fisher, have participated in this invitation-only Academy. More information about the Women’s in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, Project Podium and the Driver Development Academy can be found at www.lynstjames.com

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