William John Riley Go (rightmost) joins fellow finalists of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program. | Photo from Motorsport Australia’s website
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano karting prodigy William John Riley Go added another feather to his already decorated cap after being selected in the final stage of the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program.
This was officially announced by Motorsport Australia on September 26, 2023, via its website article, stating that Go is one of the last six remaining drivers to reach the final stage of the prestigious academy.
READ: Karting sensation William John Riley Go on recent awards: ‘I feel honored and humbled’
Go, lone Filipino Karter, to FDA
It can be recalled that Go became the lone Filipino karter to make it into the FDA last August among 100 applicants from six different countries.
From 100 applicants, only 25 were selected in the first stage where they underwent rigid training and testing using Formula 4 cars at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Besides testing, they also underwent scientific evaluation, data analysis, and physical training to test them to their core.
READ: PH karting prodigy William John Riley Go eager to bring more honor to country
Go made it to final six
Joining Go in the final six are Australian James Piszcyk, Lincoln Taylor, Kamal Mrad, Enzo Yeh of Taiwan, and Sebastian Manson of New Zealand.
According to Ferrari representative Jock Clear who is the driver coach of famous Formula 1 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Go and the rest of the six finalists still have plenty of work to do in the final stage which will be ‘extremely challenging’.
After their final stage challenge, the FDA representatives will determine who among them will join October’s FDA World Scouting Finals in Italy. The chosen driver will earn a spot in the 2024 FDA next year.
Before he embarked on his FDA Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program stint, Go received several awards in the Philippines, particularly the “Outstanding Individuals” during the 86th Cebu City Charter Day and the Tony Siddayao Award of the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA).