Auto Racing: prof. racing, bob bondurant school, professional cars

Question
greetings,
 I am 21 years old, will get my electrical engineering degree in two years time. I am really interested in pursuing a career in formula one driving, but have no idea where to go or start. I browsed the net and just found leisure parks offering adrenaline-rush-for-money 'academies' destined for speed fans with extra money. Not interested in those. I really want the reputable academic institutions that will give u a theoretical grasp on driving and racing professional cars, a gateway for prospective professional racers. for instance: u go to yale med school and land a great job at a great hospital. or get a harvard law degree to land a job in some multi-million-dollar law firm. what is the equivalent of these institutions in car racing?

Answer
Hi Selim:

You have a very high goal. Unfortunately, most Formula One drivers started racing Go Karts when they were 7 or 8 years old, and continued racing larger and faster cars through Formula 3000 in Europe. A few have come up through the ranks in a similar fashion in the US, but the secret is starting early in life.

Surely your engineering degree will help you understand the electronics involved, but the driving is quite likely completely out of your reach.

It was said a few years ago that "you have to have several years experience when you graduate to the smaller formula cars in Europe, and you need to have access to about
US$3 million dollars.  It is not a free ride in any case, and most of the drivers you see come from extremely wealthy families. Not only that, only the very best drivers in the world even get noticed, and most of them never make it to
F-1

Now to answer your question about schools, the one I recommend to anyone persuing a professional career isn the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driveing, in Phoenix, Arizona, here in the US. There are several in Europe I'm sure, but I do not know of them.

I wish I had better news for you, but the reality is that your chances at age 21 , and with no experience, are non existant.  Join the local amateur racing club in your country, buy a small race car, and go have fun- - - that's what I do !!

Sincerely,
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida USA