Richard Gonda plots next move on climb to F1

Richard Gonda has been signed by Accelerate Driver Development Ltd (ADD), a UK-based leading management organisation.

Gonda, who is the only Slovakian single-seater race driver, has been making a name for himself in his native country as a potential future F1 driver and last year successfully won the European F3 Open series Copa class title, scoring 100 points in total and impressively taking eleven podiums - including seven wins.

"I'm sure that after the results I have achieved, especially the title in the European F3 Open series, it has come at the right moment to co-operate with Graeme [Glew] and John [Byfield] of Accelerate Driver Development Ltd (ADD), who have so much experience in the world of motorsport and in F1," said the 19-year-old, who began karting in 2003, before then moving to Formula Renault in 2010.

"I believe that with Graeme, John and Accelerate Driver Development Ltd (ADD), who choose me to progress with, I can successfully reach the highest level in single-seater racing.

"We will need to work very hard in the near future, but I hope we can realise our first significant step to our target which is to race in the AutoGP World Series in 2014.

"It is all looking very exciting."

Graeme Glew, director, Accelerate Driver Development Ltd (ADD), meanwhile believes Gonda has what it takes to progress to the pinnacle of the sport.

"Having watched Richard in last year's European F3 Open Series he always impressed me with his speed and calm attitude," said Glew. "Even when he had to start from the back in one of the races at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the way he carved through the field was very impressive and a sure sign he is a winner."

"It is clear that given the opportunity, Richard will go all the way to the very top of the sport and the fact he is the only race driver to come out of Slovakia creates a unique opportunity for him," Glew added.

ADD was established back in 2010 by Glew and Byfield, who between them have over 50 years of motorsport experience at all levels from grass roots to the very pinnacle of the sport, F1. The organisation headed up by Glew specialises in driver management and sponsorship acquisition and currently also looks after, in addition to Gonda, Ferrari F1 Academy member, Nicolas Costa, as well as Robert La Rocca, Liam Venter and Lucas Biagioni. ADD also recently launched a new Driver Development Initiative at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham, the Accelerate Driver Development Junior Academy, naming karters Sam Pooley, Cameron Roberts, Kyle Hornby and Brett Ward on its initial intake.