29 June, 2015

Drive for Life (DFL), the Norwegian charity, is to become the official charity partner to the FIA European Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy (Euro RX), after agreeing terms with Championship promoter, IMG. The new partnership will help DFL expand further into Europe where it will continue to help disadvantaged children.

Established in 2011 by rallycross driver Knut Ove Borseth, DFL aims to help under-privileged children by providing support to individuals and their communities. Through an automotive focused programme run at local workshops and with educational classroom activities, DFL provides its students with inspiration, motivation and life skills. Each DFL student has their own dedicated follow-up plan, developed in collaboration with their teachers, parents and public healthcare services.

Supported by the Crown Prince of Norway, DFL currently works with councils, police and social services to select entrants in over 25 regions across Norway and Sweden. Each group follows the same structure - five students followed by two supervisors, one evening per-week, 48 weeks per year.

A new DFL RX Team will compete at selected Euro RX events and will be fully-funded by wildcard entrants to help promote the charity. Furthermore, a number of DFL students will be able to attend certain Euro RX events, meet the DFL RX drivers, work on rallycross team cars and travel as a member of the team.

"I have been very impressed by Drive for Life's philanthropic achievements and it is an honour to have them on board as our new Official Charity Partner. The statistics from DFL's Norwegian programme has revealed that 87 per cent of its students stayed on at school for a further year, which is a fantastic achievement. With over ten events staged across Europe, we can offer DFL a platform to promote the charity's work with children. Not only that, but we can help expand DFL's reach with introductions to new markets such as Spain, which currently has a 23.5 per cent school drop-out rate. We are very much looking forward to working with DFL on its RX programme and will look to support our chosen charity in as many ways as possible over the next few years," said Martin Anayi, World RX Managing Director for IMG.

Knut Ove Borseth, Founder, Drive for Life, added, "This is fantastic! To be given the opportunity to work with Euro RX and IMG in such a partnership will give many young people throughout Europe a new chance. Through this partnership, we will get the opportunity to spread our message and team activities to thousands of youths across Europe, and it is with great humility that we now undertake this responsibility. Drive for Life shall give thrill-seeking youths with a desire for risk, a legal and action-filled alternative, and a team to be proud of. With clear team rules, we will together create a healthy and good future for those who want to participate in our black and orange team. For me, this is a dream come true - a dream that will give youth a second chance to be seen, and to experience mastery and belonging."

Managing Director of TRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Foundation, Solfrid Flateby, concluded, "We are proud to have been DFL's partner for several years, and are happy to see the results of their hard work - for youth! We wish them the very best as the chosen partner for Euro RX."

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