Pirelli Star Driver is an initiative to support young rally

Rallying

Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...

 drivers, organised by Pirelli

Pirelli

Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...

 and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...

 (FIA).

History

For the first two years of the scheme, 2009 and 2010, five drivers were selected from four FIA Championships, one from the African Rally Championship

African Rally Championship

The African Rally Championship is an international automobile rally championship organized by the FIA. The championship was first held in 1981 and won by Shekhar Mehta...

, one from the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship

Asia-Pacific Rally Championship

The Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is an international rally championship organized by the FIA. The championship was first held in 1988 and won by Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka in a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. Other winners include the two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz of Spain and the 1986...

, two from the European Rally Championship

European Rally Championship

The European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile .-History:...

 and one from the Middle East Rally Championship

Middle East Rally Championship

The Middle East Rally Championship is one of the official annual rally championships run by the FIA.The 2011 Events are as follows:-2010 season:The 2010 Events and winners:-Past champions:-Previous rally winners:...

. The driver selection process was conducted by each indiviudual FIA region.

The five drivers then competed in six events of the World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship

The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...

, driving in identical Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, prepared by Ralliart

Ralliart

Ralliart was the high-performance and motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It was responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, as well as the development of high-performance models and parts available to the public...

 Italy.

The scheme was changed for the 2011 season. 16 drivers were nominated for a global shootout, from which six drivers were selected. They will compete in the new WRC Academy in Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...

 R2s.

Drivers

Year	Drivers	Representing
2011	Andrea Crugnola	Europe
	Craig Breen Craig Breen Craig Breen is an Irish rally driver. He is the current World Rally Championship Academy champion, winning his first event at the 2011 Rallye Deutschland and sealing the championship with a win at Wales Rally GB.-Career:...
	Fredrik Åhlin
	Jan Cerný Jan Cerný Jan Černý was a Czechoslovakian civil servant and politician. He was the prime minister of Czechoslovakia from 1920 to 1921 and in 1926.-External links:...
	Brendan Reeves	Asia-Pacific
	Molly Taylor	Women & Motor Sport Commission
2010	Ott Tänak Ott Tänak Ott Tänak is an Estonian rally driver.-Career:Tänak won the Estonian Rally Championship in 2008 and 2009, driving for the team run by former world rally winner Markko Märtin. Tänak made his World Rally Championship debut on the 2009 Rally de Portugal, finishing 20th overall...	Europe
	Alex Raschi
	Hayden Paddon Hayden Paddon -Career:Paddon was introduced into motorsport at an early age, his father Chris being a rally driver. Haydon began his career competing in karting. He competed in his first rally in 2002, at the age of 15. In 2006 he began competing in the New Zealand Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Lancer...	Asia-Pacific
	Peter Horsey	Africa
	Nicholai Georgiou	Middle East
2009	Jarkko Nikara Jarkko Nikara Jarkko Nikara is a Finnish rally driver. He lives in Saarijärvi, Finland.- Career :Nikara started racing at the age of 16 in national autocross competitions. The next year, he participated in Finnish rallysprint races, winning the junior championship. In 2006, he was the Finnish Junior rally...	Europe
	Martin Semerád Martin Semerád Martin Semerád is a Czech rally driver. He currently races in the Production World Rally Championship and has done since the 2009 season. He was one of the Pirelli Star Drivers in 2009. He won PWRC at 2011 Rally Sweden and he is current youngest winner of PWRC rally.- WRC results :-PWRC results:-...
	Mark Tapper	Asia-Pacific
	Nicos Thomas	Middle East
	Jon Williams	Africa