Pirelli boss says 'Star Driver' scheme has double value for the World Rally Championship.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembrey believes that the companies' 'Star Driver' scheme will breathe 'new life' into the FIA World Rally Championship over the next few years.

The details of the 'Pirelli Star Driver' scheme were confirmed back in April by the FIA, the sports governing body, and the main aim of the joint initiative is to help younger competitors reach the pinnacle of the sport.

Under it five young drivers will be drawn from the FIA regions - two from Europe and one each from the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The successful drivers from each year will then contest a series of six World Championship rallies the following season, driving identical Group N or Super 2000 cars supplied and serviced under an FIA contract with a specialist preparation company. For more detail see previous story CLICK HERE..

"The 'Pirelli Star Driver' scheme has a double value," Hembrey stated. "On the one hand, it allows young drivers to accelerate the time needed to have the opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage.

"Equally, it gives us the chance to hold an absolutely equal shoot-out - on neutral territory in front of a respected jury - between young drivers who will be able to show the best of themselves under the ideal circumstances for competition.

"This scheme will also increase the presence of young drivers on the WRC, bringing new life to a championship that will see a huge explosion in popularity over the next few years.

"Pirelli has always firmly believed in rallying and in motorsport in general, as it gives us a life-sized outdoor test bench.

"So naturally we are delighted to wholeheartedly support this initiative to promote young drivers."

A statement from the Italian tyre manufacturer, which is the official tyre supplier to the WRC, added that the European shoot-out will take place on the last weekend in October in Freistadt in Austria - and that it will work in a 'very simple and straightforward way'.

"Each European nation that hosts a WRC or European Rally Championship round will be able to nominate a driver to represent them through their national motorsport federation: this makes a total of 18 nations," added the release to the media.

"The overall winners will be selected with a view to their all-round performance - irrespective of the car they are driving - in a carefully formulated shoot-out. The drivers have to be aged less than 27 on January 1st 2008, while the panel judging them will be made up of well-known former rally stars as well as experts from Pirelli.

"An interesting element of the selection process will be an interview that each driver will have to give in English, in order to assess his or her communication skills towards the world's media.

"Further details of the regulations governing the selection process will be made available shortly and given to all the nations participating in the Pirelli Star Driver programme."