Rally driver David Holder will follow in the footsteps of New Zealand's blossoming motorsport talent after being selected to attend the 2013 NZ Elite Motorsport Academy in Dunedin later this year.

The academy being run in July through the network of High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) aims to prepare, and further develop talented young New Zealanders showing promise in their chosen motorsport.

David Holder will attend the 2013 NZ Elite Motorsport Academy held in Dunedin in July.

Having won the Open class 2WD New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) in his rookie season last year, the Mount Maunganui based driver is currently campaigning in the NZRC again this year, aiming to compete internationally in coming years.

Holder will be joining an impressive list of past graduates including Mitch Evans, Brendon Hartley, Shane Van Gisbergen, and David's current mentor, the 2011 Production World Rally Champion, Hayden Paddon.

'Just getting selected to attend the academy is a huge achievement in itself, so I'm pretty stoked.”

The academy program is aimed at individuals planning on competing at the highest level in their chosen motorsport division, and covers everything from physiology, mental skills training, nutrition, media training, and life management skills during a week-long camp.

The graduates then complete an ongoing training program with help from HPSNZ.

'I'm expecting it to be pretty full on, both physically and mentally. Our day begins at 6.30 am and runs right through until 9pm, with apparently some homework to do on top of that.

'Obviously the aim for the training week will be to take away as much learning as possible, but they do run the week as a competition so I'll be having a crack at taking away the win.”

Holder will compete in the 3^rd round of the NZRC just two days before the Academy week begins. His progress and regular updates can be followed atwww.holderbrothersracing.com.