The Software AG ERA Championship and Racing Pride are teaming up to offer a scholarship worth approximately 150,000 euros for an LGBTQ+ driver aged 16+ to compete in the 2023 Software AG ERA Championship.

ERA is a groundbreaking all-electric single seater formula designed to provide an electric ladder for aspiring drivers. It is an FIA international series supporting the FIA ETCR e-Touring Car World Cup. The 2023 European season is set to see 10 races across 5 double-header race weekends, which will be livestreamed with highlights broadcast on Eurosport.

Diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainability, is hugely important to ERA’s vision for the future of motorsport. Racing Pride has already held activations with ERA at their Zolder base on two occasions in 2022 – during pre-season testing in April and at the series’ first full race event, alongside FIA ETCR in July.

Racing Pride Co-Founder and Driver Ambassador Richard Morris, who has driven the ERA car on multiple occasions in 2022, said: “It’s wonderful to be able to offer this incredible opportunity through Racing Pride. The ERA Championship’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is extremely genuine – it has been there from the start, and through initiatives such as the Racing Pride Scholarship and the Next Gen Racer competition the organisers are actively creating the means to turn that commitment into a tangible reality. It’s a fantastic chance the Scholarship winner will have to carve out a career. The ERA Championship is unique in offering an electric junior single seater pathway. Electric motors will play a huge role in the future of the sport, and learning the techniques which are relevant to them will set a driver apart. Meanwhile, being an FIA international series on the FIA ETCR e-Touring Car World Cup package, with coverage from Eurosport, means that ERA offers a brilliant platform. I’m excited to see the applications come in and to watch the winner of the Scholarship compete across Europe, flying the flag for Racing Pride, in 2023.”

ERA Co-Founder & Director Beth Georgiou added: “We are so proud to be working with Racing Pride to give a driver the opportunity to compete in the Software AG ERA Championship Series Europe 2023. We believe that by creating different pathways of entry into our championship, we can empower anyone to pursue a career in motorsport and feel welcomed into our paddock. By giving this scholarship, we hope to enable a talented driver to kick-start their career. As the world’s first electric entry-level series, we are in a unique position to help shape the future of our sport. We believe that both sustainability and inclusion are fundamental to that future.”

The application deadline for candidates to express interest in the Racing Pride Scholarship is 23:59 GMT on Sunday 16th October 2022.
Shortlisted candidates for the scholarship will be invited to attend an assessment day at Zolder on Monday 31st October 2022. The assessment day will involve practice media interviews and assessments, simulator driving, and on-track sessions with the ERA Championship car. All of the drivers at the assessment day will receive constructive coaching and feedback. Drivers will be judged not just on their outright pace and current driving ability, but also their response to coaching, the quality of their feedback to the team, their performance in media assessments and interviews, and their potential to be a positive ambassador representing the values of Racing Pride and of ERA.

ERA is committed to giving as many routes of entry into the series as possible. Another fantastic opportunity for all drivers – LGBTQ+ or not – is provided by the Next Gen Racer competition. Drivers are very welcome to apply both to the Racing Pride Scholarship and the Next Gen Racer competition, which can be found here.
Read on for more details about the Championship and the Racing Pride Scholarship and how to apply.

About the Software AG ERA Championship 2023:
● FIA International Series
● Electric single-seater race cars
● Supporting FIA ETCR e-Touring Car World Cup
● All races available to view via free livestream online and highlights broadcast on Eurosport
● 10 Races across 5 double-header race weekends in Europe
● 10 Drivers, 10 Cars, 5 Teams
● Calendar to take place across summer months and finish by Autumn, dates to be announced
● Pre-season testing will be included

Racing Pride Scholarship applicant requirements:
● Aged 16 or over
● LGBTQ+
● By the beginning of the Software AG ERA Championship 2023 season, the successful applicant will need to hold a minimum of an International D grade race licence. Note: for Motorsport UK race licence holders it is possible to switch directly from a Race National licence to an International D licence without any further qualification. This licence is not required for the assessment day, but the applicant will need to be willing and able to obtain it before the season commences.
● Applicants with some previous racing or karting experience and successes may have an advantage in the selection process, as may applicants who already hold a race or kart licence

Racing Pride Scholarship selection process

Candidates should send an application to contact@racingpride.com and info@erachampionship.com to be received no later than 23:59 GMT on Sunday 16th October 2022 containing:
1. A motorsport CV detailing previous racing experience and results, as well as stating motorsport licence grade currently held
2. The following information written in the body of the email: Name, pronouns, age, contact email and phone number (including country code), links to any motorsport relevant social media profiles and/or website you may have, an explanation of why you would like to represent Racing Pride and why you would be a good representative for Racing Pride, and an explanation of why competing in the Software AG ERA Championship would be the right step for your motorsport career.

Up to 6 candidates will then be invited to an assessment day at Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, on 31st October 2022. All of the invited candidates will have the opportunity to sample the ERA Championship car and will receive coaching and feedback. At this assessment candidates will be judged not just on their outright pace and current driving ability, but also their response to coaching, the quality of their feedback to the team, their integration with the team, and their performance in media assessments and interviews.

Any social media posts or public facing platforms drivers may have, of which the selectors are aware, may also be taken into consideration when assessing the potential for candidates to be positive ambassadors for Racing Pride and for the Championship – candidates are encouraged to show the selectors what they can do as ambassadors by using their social media and other platforms through the process.

One of the candidates invited to the assessment day will be offered the Scholarship, subject to agreeing and signing associated terms and conditions. A reserve or reserves may also be selected following the assessment day at the discretion of ERA.

All of the candidates who attend the assessment day will also be able to claim a 10% discount on entry to the ERA Next Gen Racer competition (https://www.erachampionship.com/news/software-ag-era-championship-launches-the-next-gen-racer-competition) as well as a discount for use on ERA Zolder Race School days in 2023, if they would like to use these opportunities to get back into the car following the Scholarship selection process.

Conditions

Please note that the Scholarship includes all team, race-car hire, and entry costs for the 2023 Software AG ERA Championship but does not include expenses such as travel, accommodation, race licence fees, or driver safety equipment (such as helmet, overalls, etc.), or any additional medical or travel insurance which drivers may like to obtain, which drivers will be expected to organise and pay for themselves.
The Scholarship assessment day will be provided free of charge, but drivers will be expected to cover their own travel expenses. Driver safety equipment will be available to borrow for the assessment day.
Various media content such as photos and videos will be created at the assessment day for both immediate and future use by Racing Pride, ERA, and their relevant partners. This content may feature online, on social media, in print, and elsewhere, potentially in an edited form. By agreeing to attend the assessment day, candidates consent to being featured in this content and to the content being used by Racing Pride, ERA, and their partners.
Candidates participating in the Racing Pride Software AG ERA Championship Scholarship selection process agree that they shall not discredit, defame, or otherwise bring into disrepute Racing Pride, ERA, Software AG, their partners, or the other candidates. In particular, candidates accept that decisions involved in the selection process are necessarily subjective and agree to respect the decisions made by the selectors.
As well as participating in the series, the selected Scholarship winner will be expected to engage in media and publicity activities for Racing Pride, Software AG ERA Championship, and team sponsors. This may include:
● Interviews, photographs, and other media both at the events and outside of them
● Driver meet and greets at events
● Regularly posting on their own social media about the Championship, crediting Racing Pride, and tagging relevant sponsors (as advised), both at and around race events
● Regularly sharing content and social media posts from Racing Pride, the Software AG ERA Championship, and their team sponsors where relevant
● A willingness to attend sponsor events when reasonable notice is given. Necessary expenses for such events will be covered by the sponsors.

Disclaimer

Racing Pride CIC’s role is merely to facilitate and promote applications for the assessment day and funded Scholarship drive in the 2023 Software AG ERA Championship, and to give input regarding the candidate selection process in collaboration with ERA. Racing Pride CIC is not responsible for the organisation or delivery of the assessment day or the 2023 Software AG ERA Championship and cannot accept liability for any incidents, losses, damages, or injuries sustained by any applicants at any stage of the process or in connection with it. Furthermore, in submitting an application for this Scholarship, the applicant acknowledges and declares that motor racing is a hazardous pursuit and accordingly fully acknowledges and accepts all associated risks and therefore agrees and declares on behalf of themselves and their heirs assigns and any personal representatives that they shall to the maximum extent permitted at law keep Racing Pride CIC, ERA, and to the extent applicable all respective representatives fully indemnified and harmless from all and any claims however arising from the activities of the applicant in connection with this Scholarship and any incident flowing or howsoever arising as a consequence thereof. In addition, Racing Pride CIC cannot accept any responsibility or liability in the event of ERA being unable to perform any aspect of the Scholarship process or agreement in whole or in part for any reason. Applicant selections, invitations to the scholarship assessment day, and decisions regarding scholarship offers are at the complete discretion of Racing Pride and ERA.