Journal | News
Assessment days, in numbers
How 146 applications became five places in the 2029 intake.
The 2029 assessment days finished at Modena on Thursday. Five drivers will start the programme in March. Here is how we got there.
The 2029 intake
- Applications received, 1 September to 30 November
- 146
- Countries they came from
- 31
- Shortlisted for video assessment
- 38
- Finalists at the assessment days
- 12
- Days at Modena
- 2
- Places
- 5
What the numbers mean
Every one of the 146 applications was read in full by Berto Marchetti and Bruno Galli, and every applicant heard back before the end of December. The 38 drivers on the shortlist filmed a set of exercises over the winter, which the coaching staff reviewed together in January.
The 12 finalists came to Modena with a parent or guardian. Over two days they drove the kart circuit, spent time in the sim suite and the workshop, and talked with us. Then the panel scored each of them on four things: pace for the equipment they have had, how quickly they learned over the two days, character, and Berto’s judgement.
What the numbers do not say
Choosing 5 from 12 was hard, and choosing 12 from 146 was harder. A good number of the drivers we did not take this year could succeed on the programme. We have told every finalist why the decision went the way it did, and we hope some of them apply again. Several of our current students did.
Applications for the 2030 intake open on 1 September.