Nico launches the Rosberg Young Driver Academy

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Nico Rosberg is scouting for young talent in motorsport, and has just launched his own academy in partnership with an old acquaintance.

Formula 1's 2016 world champion was in Italy last weekend along with Dino Chiesa, a man who once oversaw a promising pair of Mercedes-Benz/McLaren-supported young karters named Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

Mika Hakkinen and Nico Rosberg go for a drive in the country!

“We had built the team specifically for them thanks to a deal with Ron Dennis who was managing a young driver programme back then in which Lewis was included,” remembers Chiesa.

“There was also Keke Rosberg who was handling his son's career.

“The programme was supposed to run for three years, but Nico and Lewis were so good that they moved up from karts to cars in just two years. Nico graduated to Formula BMW while Lewis raced in for Formula Renault.”

A prolific chassis manufacturer in karting, Chiesa will be prowling the fiercely competitive karting ranks with the support of his former protégé and Petronas, in search of tomorrow's stars.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.