Duncan has reached the next stage of the MSA British Race Elite programme which is being funded by the MSA to help British drivers succeed at the highest levels of international motorsport. The scheme is being led by David Brabham.

Duncan has been chosen as one of 20 drivers who are through to the next stage where he will be interviewed by an independent panel of judges. Six drivers will be chosen from the best of British drivers in Formula Ford, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, Formula Palmer Audi, Formula 3, touring and sportscar racing.

As well as working on track performance, engineering skills and technical understanding, the six Race Elite students will receive tuition in additional areas such as physical training, mind coaching, career management, sponsorship generation, promotion and media presentation that complete the all-round package of the modern motor racing driver. The race scheme follows the already successful British Rally Elite programme launched last year.

Final judging will take place on 5th April at the Motor Sport Association`s headquarters in Colnbrook. The judges are Peter Briggs, a highly experienced single-seater Team Owner/Manager; Oliver Gavin, former British F3 Champion and current factory GM sportscar driver; Chris Gorne, race engineer in GP2 and Renault World Series and engineer to the winning A1 Team France; Matt James, Assistant Editor of Motorsport News with particular responsibilities to BTCC and national racing; David Leslie, one of Britain’s most versatile racing drivers having raced in single seaters, touring cars and sportscars, now a commentator with Eurosport. Their experience in and representation of a wide range of formulae will be invaluable in making the final selection of the six drivers who will become the first members of the MSA British Race Elite programme.

David Brabham said of the selection, “It wasn’t an easy job to whittle the number down to 20 as the quality of applicants was very high. One of our main criteria was that the drivers must have a confirmed 2007 racing programme and this was a factor in the final selection as was, of course, their achievements to date. We also tried to cover as many British racing categories as possible, bearing in mind that this is a ‘Race Elite’ programme and not just a single-seater programme.”

Duncan added: “I’m very pleased to be through to the final 20. The list of my rivals includes a wide variety of drivers such as Colin Turkington, a BTCC race winner, to relative novices. It will be interesting to see how we are judged. I’m obviously going to do my best and hope that my BRDC Rising Star award and being an Autosport Award finalist help to show the judges that I have recognised potential.

“I have been very fortunate to have the support of my sponsors and teams so far but I think the Race Elite programme would help me to get to the next level and achieve my ambition of a career in motorsport and to be one of the top British drivers.”

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