Dris Elba announced a new initiative to find and nurture future races talent from communities that are currently underrepresented in the motorsport world.
The London-born actor and DJ, 49, hopes the Speed Academy will give young people more opportunities in areas typically reserved for the wealthy.
Speaking to Standard, he said: “I’ve always had a soft spot for cars, motorcycles, motorsports – anything with a steering wheel, really, and I’ve been more or less married to the idea that I’m someone who’s always wanted to offer a chance at the table I stood in parliament, talked about diversity and talked about talent that is everywhere, but opportunities are not.
“I was an inner city kid, working class immigrants, opportunities for me were really through what I could get in school, maybe a youth club here and there, but other than that, if I wanted to be in motorsport, there was almost zero opportunity.”
This Sunday, children aged 6 to 16 are invited to race at the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in London for the chance to win Speed Academy scholarships and open a viable path to high-level competitive motorsport.
“15-20 years ago if Formula 1 had done something like this, we could see a much wider spectrum, not just of people who put Formula 1 together, but the public as well. Right now the public is quite attuned to those who know, and are equal to a certain power class. Formula E now has the opportunity to change and shift that story.”
Elsewhere, Elba has recently completed the filming of the Luther TV series adaptation and is working on the Apple TV+ series Hijack.
“We’ve shot Luther now. We’re in the editing phase and I’m really excited for the fans to see the growth from a TV show to a movie. [Hijack] is really exciting, we’re filming in England which is great because I like being at home and the industry is really healthy here at the moment.”
Elba’s work takes him all over the world, so he enjoys spending time in the UK with his wife Sabrina and two children from previous relationships.
“It was great to be home, be around my kids and be present.”
Idris Elba’s Speed Academy, powered by Total Karting, will be hosted at the London Formula E-Prix on July 31. Participants can register at totalkartingmotorsport.com/speedacademy