The V8 Challenge Cup has launched the search for the next Scott McLaughlin or Greg Murphy with the announcement of its new Star of Tomorrow project and with it the potentially career-changing prize of a fully-funded enduro seat as a co-driver in at least one BNT V8 SuperTourer endurance event later this year.

A judging panel will look at the individual performances of every driver in the TL-specification field of Holden and Ford V8 machinery and will select one driver who impresses them with their skill, commitment and all round ability on and off the track as a driver. That driver will not necessarily be the series winner, or potentially even a race winner.

“There are outstanding drivers out there who regularly turn in great drives irrespective of whether they have an endless budget to help them achieve that or not,” said series co-ordinator Stephen Gillard. “These days a pro driver has to be capable of jaw-dropping race performances on the track and off it be a rounded professional who is sponsor, media and fan friendly and an accomplished athlete as well.

“We’re simply looking for anyone in the V8 Challenge Cup who impresses us in those areas time and time again.  That’s the type of driver we all want to see succeed and our contribution as a series will be to put them into a V8 SuperTourer as a co-driver in an endurance race, and although we have a few elements of this exciting initiative to firm up, we are aiming to make this happen in 2013 at the season finale.  The talent is out there and we want to see them all running in the V8 Challenge Cup.”

It is the second significant announcement in a week by V8 Challenge Cup organisers. Last week the series confirmed a new sponsor in Cogent Telecommunication and with it a $20,000 prize fund package for this season. The prize fund is designed to boost fields and provide up and coming V8 drivers with a significant contribution to running costs or to help them achieve the next step in their racing careers.