F1 Academy expands 2026 Rookie Test with new Loughborough University Training Camp

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F1 Academy has expanded its Rookie Test programme for 2026 with the introduction of a new Rookie Training Camp, supported by Loughborough University.

Following the inaugural Rookie Test in 2025, the series will bring 18 female drivers together for a programme designed to identify and develop emerging talent with the potential to compete in F1 Academy in the future. The drivers will attend the Rookie Training Camp at Loughborough University from 25 to 27 August before taking part in the on-track Rookie Test at Circuito de Navarra from 9 to 11 September.

F1 Academy and Loughborough University have developed the programme to give drivers experience and knowledge that can support their progression both in and out of the car. During the camp, participants will complete physiological profiling, cognitive testing and VALD performance screening alongside seminars and interactive workshops covering areas including strength and conditioning, performance lifestyle, resilience and behaviours associated with success in elite sport.

The Rookie Test will then give the drivers experience inside an F1 Academy team environment. They will observe driver briefings and engineering sessions, complete media briefings and assessment activities, and conclude the programme by driving F1 Academy machinery on track.

F1 Academy builds on inaugural Rookie Test

Katie Denver, Performance & Talent Development Manager at F1 Academy, explained that the expanded programme aims to build on the foundations laid by the inaugural Rookie Test in 2025. With the addition of the Rookie Training Camp, F1 Academy will be able to assess and support drivers across a wider range of areas, extending the focus beyond their performance behind the wheel. Denver believes the combination of scientific expertise and practical on-track experience can give the selected drivers a stronger understanding of the demands involved in progressing through elite motorsport.

“The success of our inaugural Rookie Test in 2025 demonstrated both the depth of female racing talent coming through the pathway and the importance of providing opportunities for drivers to showcase their potential. For 2026, we’re taking the programme a step further with the introduction of the Rookie Training Camp, delivered with Loughborough University.”

“This gives us the opportunity to support drivers not only on track, but also through a science-backed approach to athlete development, helping them better understand their physical, cognitive, and behavioural performance. By combining world-class expertise, research, and on-track experience, we’re creating an environment where drivers can accelerate their development and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed both on and off the track.”

Loughborough brings elite sporting expertise to the programme

Lou Gear, Director of Sport at Loughborough University, welcomed the opportunity to work alongside F1 Academy and support the next generation of female racing talent. In particular, Loughborough has an established background in developing athletes for elite competition, while Gear highlighted the similarities between the university’s approach and F1 Academy’s commitment to creating opportunities for young drivers. Furthermore, she stressed that providing a high-performance environment can help ambitious athletes better understand what they need to reach the next level.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome F1 Academy and its rookie drivers to Loughborough. This collaboration brings together two organisations with a shared belief in the power of talent, hard work, opportunity and world-class performance environments to unlock extraordinary potential.”

“At Loughborough Sport, we have spent generations supporting athletes to pursue excellence on the world stage, and we see many shared values in F1 Academy’s commitment to developing the next generation of female racing talent. Together, we are passionate about creating environments where ambitious young people can thrive, pursue excellence and fulfil their potential.”

Collaboration aims to champion women in sport

Beyond preparing the drivers for the physical and mental demands of high-level competition, Gear also emphasised the wider significance of the partnership. The collaboration forms part of a shared effort to create more opportunities for women in sport while giving talented young drivers access to expertise that can support their long-term development. Gear hopes the programme will not only benefit the drivers taking part but also help demonstrate what is possible for the next generation of female athletes.

“We look forward to sharing our expertise, learning from one another and helping these exceptional drivers prepare for the demands of elite competition. Most importantly, this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to championing women in sport, creating more opportunities for talented female athletes to excel and inspiring the next generation to believe that there is no limit to what they can achieve.”