Leading fitness and nutrition driver-trainer Phil Young will leave Tekno Autosports at the end of the month.
Young, who worked in F1 for seven years helping Mark Webber and Jenson Button with their off-track preparations, is setting up shop at a new complex at Coomera on the Gold Coast.
After having played a key role in James Courtney’s preparation when he won the championship for Dick Johnson Racing in 2010, Young has since been aligned with Tekno which finished the 2013 on a high through Shane Van Gisbergen’s sizzling Race 36 victory.
“I would like to thank the Webb family for the opportunity to be part of the birth of a new team. I have enjoyed the challenge and wish them all the success in the future,” Young said.
“It was certainly pleasing to go out on a winning note with Tekno at the weekend in Sydney.
“With the uncertainty of how Tekno will line up for the 2014 season coupled with on-going projects that require me to operate independently of a team environment, I have decided now is a good time to start afresh.”
Tekno will field a single-car entry for Van Gisbergen in 2014 and remains in talks over fielding a customer car however Speedcafe understands that it has ruled out running a second team car.
Young’s new company, GP Human Performance, will also be staffed by sports scientist Ben Nothling.
Nothling has had success at the highest levels of Australian elite sport as a part of the A-League Championship-winning Brisbane Roar support staff in 2011 and 2012.
Nothling, who has a Masters degree in High Performance Coaching, has worked with Young this year training drivers from V8s and other motorsport categories.
“I’m very excited to be able to team up with someone of Phil’s knowledge and experience and I’m also looking forward to using my own skills and experience to not only improve the ability of the elite motorsport athletes in this country, but also help produce the next generation of champions,” said Nothling.
GP Human Performance will be providing a driver training facility with specialist sport-specific equipment including neck strength and reaction training, as well as extensive physiological and fitness testing.
Young and Nothling have existing clients from many categories including Karting, Formula Ford, Porsche Carrera Cup, Dunlop series and V8 Supercars.
