Lewis Hamilton's dad to launch 'X-Factor' style F1 talent hunt

London, Mar 13 (ANI): Lewis Hamilton's dad Anthony is set to launch a Formula 1 talent contest which emulates the style of shows like 'X-factor', to hunt for Grand Prix stars of the future.

The McLaren drivers' father said that he has tentative backing from F1 teams to make race seats available on the 2014 Formula 1 grid if the drivers, one male and one female, make the grade.

The format, christened 107 percent, is intended to be a global competition to find race drivers for F1 and other forms of motorsport.

Just as it is in Formula 1, at each stage competitors will have to be within 107 percent of the winner or they will be kicked out of the competition.

According to sources, the plan has influential backing in motor racing circles and a major manufacturer involved.

"The idea is to reach deep into the untapped pool of the general public to find talented individuals who could be race drivers and that must exist worldwide," the Mirror quoted Anthony as saying.

"The idea is to create 'X-factor' and 'Apprentice style' opportunities for the general public who dream to become race drivers. The intention is to use on-line qualifying within 107 percent of a set time as part of the process then the competition is within the reach of everyone who has a dream of becoming a race driver.

"The only qualifications for entrance will be that you can reach the pedals of a road car! Essentially you pay a modest fee to download a programme and then you can try and qualify as many times as you want.

"If you pass the on-line qualification stages you will be invited to take part in the actual competition where there will be various televised boot camps and it will end in a televised live F1-style final," he said.

He also said that there were other modes of payment, if one was not enough.

"If you can't play on-line, you will still get the opportunity to enter the competition by visiting a dealer showroom.

"The winner gets a full season's drive with an F1 team - a real race drive not a one- off test. Most people dare not even dream of an F1 or race driver career because the various steps on the ladder are so expensive. Well my dream is that 107 percent can help make some people's dreams come true.

"I am planning - and hoping - to launch 107 percent in the next two months. I'm putting my reputation on the line with my belief that somewhere out there a new star is waiting to be found, if I fail I'll take up fishing! The concept can work, I just need everything to come together to make it happen and so far it's all looking good, so fingers crossed," he added.

Anthony is legendary for the way he helped his son Lewis, the 2008 world champion, negotiate the pit falls of an F1 career to become the best in the world.

Now he is working with his other son, Nic, 19, who is a saloon car racer, and running an elite management group which includes rising F1 star Paul di Resta, world kart champion Nick De Vries and the son of retired world champion boxer Chris Eubank. (ANI)