New Scholarship Program for Female Race Car Drivers - Project Podium

Young women who test their mettle each week on race tracks may be able to enhance their competitive performance through an innovative new scholarship program exclusively for race car drivers. Project Podium, founded by entrepreneur and former Indy 500 driver Lyn St. James, is the newest program of Women in the Winners Circle Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, and is designed to empower active young female race car drivers to help further their early professional careers.

Up to $50,000 in scholarships are available to young women drivers who compete in all forms of motorsports: karting, quarter midgets, drag racing, sports car and oval track racing. Project Podium is unique in that an applicant will only be considered eligible if there is proof that funds equal to the scholarship amount requested have been raised from sponsorship for her racing. This approach exposes drivers to the business aspect of the racing industry.

Drivers can apply for a scholarship by submitting their biography, racing resume, driver/team sponsorship information and a written request in 250 words or less. Applications can be downloaded from www.lynstjames.com. The deadline to submit applications is March 31.

"The scholarship program is designed to increase the support for women in racing to help them win races and championships as they work towards the top level of professional racing,² explains St. James. "In todayıs competitive environment, it takes more than natural driving skills to climb the motorsports ladder, it takes a special understanding of all aspects of motor racing, including how to obtain and manage sponsorships. Weıre here to help these drivers fast-track their racing dreams."

Applicants will be reviewed by a volunteer panel of motorsports and business professionals. In addition to Lyn St. James, the reviewing committee consists of: Vicki OıConnor, managing director of the Atlantic Championship; Linda Conti, financial advisor at Wachovia Securities; Amy Rosewater, sports writer; Angelique Chengelis, The Detroit News motorsports writer; and Erin Crocker, WWC driver development graduate.

Project Podium joins the Women in the Winners Circle Foundationıs highly successful Driver Development Program. It is the most comprehensive educational and training program of its kind, covering such areas as fitness and mental preparation, business and media training, and on-track and technical courses. The Driver Development Program has graduated more than 200 drivers since its inception in 1994, including Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher and Melanie Troxel.

Project Podium is actively supported by a number of partners, including Newmanıs Own, IndyCar/Indy Car Pro Series, Grand Am, NHRA, Rolex, Toyota Motorsports, Mazda USA, VW Motorsports, Mike Helton and the NASCAR Foundation.

For additional information on Women in the Winners Circle Foundation and its programs, visit www.lynstjames.com