GT: Canning Graduates with Honours from Aston Martin Academy

2019 British GT Championship GT4 drivers champion Tom Canning has graduated top of his class from this year’s Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy and will now receive career assistance for his 2020 campaign.

Canning, from Bath in Somerset, drove the #97 TF Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 to title victory with teammate Ash Hand, a win at Spa-Francorchamps a highlight for the 17-year-old in only his first full season in the new-for-2019 car.

As party of his prize, Canning will receive career assistance from Aston Martin Racing, a financial contribution to his 2020 racing programme, a fitness programme, simulator time and driver coaching.

Aston Martin Racing President David King was quick to praise Canning’s willingness to extract maximum value from his season in the programme.

“Tom is clearly a very promising talent and this shone through in all aspects of his academy training,” said David King. “He approached the programme with maturity and focus and his attitude to the programme was exemplary. He was eager to learn at every opportunity and was frequently found in the engineering office at this year’s Silverstone round of the FIA World Endurance Championship! That he combined all this with a consummate campaign in the British GT Championship shows that he fully deserves the opportunity to become part of the Aston Martin Racing family.” – David King

Canning began his British GT Championship career in the 2018, driving the Steller Motorsport Toyota GT86 GT4 before switching to Anna Walewska’s ProTechnika Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4 at Spa. Walewska and Canning went on to finish second in the GT4 Pro-Am on the team’s debut weekend.

Canning was delighted with his success in the Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy.

“I am very pleased to announce that I am the 2019 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy winner! I am really looking forward to continuing my partnership with Aston Martin Racing and working closer with the team in 2020. I can’t thank AMR enough for the opportunity and for their support this year, enabling me to become British GT Champion.” – Tom Canning

Applications for the 2020 Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy open on December 1.