OFFICIAL PARTNER TEAM
2024 HPD ACADEMY
CONCEPT
The idea behind the HPD Academy formed after Honda and Acura racing personnel noted that many open wheel drivers competing in their first major sports car race, such as the Rolex 24, lacked critical knowledge specific to endurance sports car racing. Their first time participating was extremely challenging, with their performance hampering the team’s success, despite the driver’s achievements and experience in other series.
For example, in karting and the open wheel ranks, drivers are exclusively racing similar- if not identical- cars, posting similar lap times; in sports car racing with multiple classes and packed fields, lap times can vary by 10 seconds or more, creating a huge challenge just to not damage the car through contact with cars in other classes. Maintaining competitive lap times while safely navigating traffic is crucial to a good race result, but the atmosphere in which to learn that ability does not exist in other forms of racing. This is just one example of a specific skill needed to succeed in endurance sports car racing. There are many more!
Recognizing the opportunity to teach talented drivers the essential skills necessary to become successful in sports car racing provided the motivation to create the inaugural HPD Academy in 2019.
CURRICULUM
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Safely navigating traffic while maintaining competitive lap times
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Saving fuel while still maintaining competitive lap times
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Working with multiple drivers and your engineer on car set up
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Endurance race driving techniques – it’s different than sprint races!
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Maximizing the use of multi-function traction control and driver adjustable ABS
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Racing safely and effectively at night or in the rain
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Achieving your best performance on very little practice time
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Important techniques for in laps and out laps
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Pre-event preparation / post event reports
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Executing fast and effective driver changes
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Understanding strategies to achieve the best team result with multiple drivers
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Understanding the difference between starting driver vs finishing driver roles
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Physical and mental preparation, including nutrition, hydration and training
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Working with spotters
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And much, much more!
PROGRAM
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The GT3 program is limited to only 4 qualified students
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Participation can be in the Academy alone or bundled with an HPD race program
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Each student will drive approximately 1000 km in an actual team car – an Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
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The schedule consists of 4 separate track events, each two days in duration, at IMSA or SRO tracks
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On-track crash damage insurance is included to cover major damage
TUITION
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Tuition for the full Academy program in an Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 is $145,000
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Cost for the Academy with an SRO race program is dependent on race series and class
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Payment terms are negotiable to meet each student's needs
CONTACT
Jon Mirachi, Program Manager: jon@racersedgemotorsports.com or 386-785-4955