Monday 5th November 2007

What A Difference A Year Makes

New Foundation aims to nurture the next Hamilton

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The next big thing?

The motorsport world is still coming to terms with both the success and fallout from Lewis Hamilton’s debut F1 season (sorry Fernando).

Amongst the hype, rumours and premature autobiographies that we have seen so far, today marks the establishment of a scheme that actually might do some good.

Capitalising on the raised level of interest in UK motor racing, the Racing Steps Foundation, headed up by ex-F1 champion John Surtees aims to help young British drivers who wouldn’t normally get the chance to compete due to the cost of going racing.

The scheme aims to aid driver development in three tiered stages: karting, Formula Renault and ultimately Formula 3 with a view to nurturing the very best driving talents that the UK has to offer.

As well John Surtees’ work as an ambassador for the Foundation, the scheme has the support of Fortec Motorsport, who will run the Formula Renault entrant, and Carlin Motorsport, who will take car of the RSF Formula 3 car.

For 2008, the F3 drive has been awarded to 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner Oliver Turvey, while other drivers and the karting team are to be confirmed.

[Dave Dax builder]

At 42 am I too old? Maybe I could sue for "Ageism".

[steveinoxford]

"help young British drivers who wouldn’t normally get the chance to compete due to the cost of going racing"

well thats most of us hanging on by our shoe laces or selling the family silver, hoping to get noticed and land a sponsor. At well over 100 grand for a season, the "entry level" formula renault is a steep climb for us all! You should see our knackerd horse box dwarfed by mega cool artic transporter lorries and motorhomes.

oh well, back to searching for sponsorship and sticking out press releases...sigh

Steve. slogging away on 3ksracing.co.uk -shamelss plug

[johnny senna]

This is very good news indeed. Oliver Turvey is a good lad. I heard that in the final of the Autosport/McLaren Young Driver of the Year, he was head and shoulders above the other lads, setting the best lap times.
He's also modest and very bright. He is at Cambridge University.
The chap is my missus's cousin, so I am biased, but what a great opportunity for him the F3 drive is. Come on Turvey my son!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mark69sheer]

Name for the future Nigel Moore , currently only 15 but just won the Ginetta Junior championship.
I started karting 10 yrs ago and he did too at 5 yrs old in unlicenced karts racing. Like Hamilton mum and dad have helped him all the way , allthough using their own money rather than Ron's.
I don't know if they will be able to afford F Renault but they are aparently going GT3 next year with the Ginetta G50 so maybe no Formula 1 star of the future but certainly a prospective Derek Bell or Alan McNish and with a bit of luck a Bernd Scnieder or Fabrizio Giovanardi.