Tom Canning has been selected as Aston Martin Racing’s 2019 Driver Academy winner.
Clinching the British GT4 title alongside fellow Academy member Ash Hand allied to performances across all aspects of the programme saw the TF Sport driver selected ahead of 22 other 17-25-year-old candidates, all of whom raced with AMR across three continents this year.
Canning, who remains the youngest driver in British GT history, will receive career assistance and guidance from Aston Martin Racing in 2020, including a financial contribution to his race programme, fitness and simulator time as well as driver coaching.
The 17-year-old follows in the footsteps of another British GT4 and now-works FIA World Endurance Championship driver Ross Gunn who was the first driver to receive the accolade. He scored highest across all categories according to a panel of judges which included British GT record holder Jonny Adam, three-time Le Mans class winner Darren Turner, and Aston Martin Racing team principal Paul Howarth.
“To be chosen to be a part of the Aston Martin Racing Academy was a privilege and I have
definitely benefited from all of their support during 2019,” he said. “Simulator training, coaching at all of the rounds, fitness and media training have all helped me develop as a driver, enabling me to win British GT4.
“I am excited to become part of the AMR family and look forward to my new role and working closer with the team in 2020 and getting back in the Aston Martin Vantage. Thank you to AMR for the opportunity.”
Aston Martin Racing President David King added: “Tom is clearly a very promising talent, and this shone through in all aspects of his academy training. He approached the programme with maturity and focus and his attitude to the programme was exemplary. He was eager to learn at every opportunity and was frequently found in the engineering office at this year’s Silverstone round of the FIA World Endurance Championship!
“That he combined all this with a consummate campaign in the British GT Championship shows that he fully deserves the opportunity to become part of the Aston Martin Racing family.”
Canning has already tested TF Sport’s GT3-spec Vantage, although a final decision on his 2020 programme remains TBC.