Season Two of the Mercedes-Benz Young Star Driver programme has been concluded at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
Of the six finalists, Raj Bharath of Bangalore emerged the winner followed by Vikash Anand of Chennai. Second runner-up was Ali Yawar Hayat of Bangalore.
The winner will get to participate in the AMG Driving Academy’s basic and advanced course in India, and then undergo pro-training at the AMG academy in Germany. He will also get to interact with the Mercedes F1 team drivers, Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg. The first runner-up will get advanced training at the Buddh Circuit while the second runner-up will get basic training at the circuit.
Mercedes received 5,970 applications for the programme from across the country, of which close to 60 percent were from Tier II and III cities.
The finals of the Young Star Driver programme Season Two was flagged off by Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Vicky Chandhok, one of India’s racing personalities and former FMSCI president. The finalists were driving the recently launched Mercedes CLA 45 AMG.
Unnatee Gidithuri
Suraj Viswanathan
