A new foundation to help ambitious young British racing drivers to realise their dreams, is announced today. Former Grand Prix World Champion John Surtees has agreed to act in an ambassadorial role for this exciting initiative that is specifically aimed at helping those young hopefuls who due to lack of funds, might not otherwise reach the sport’s senior formulae.
The Racing Steps Foundation (RSF), has been established to help a small number of young drivers initially at three levels: karting, Formula Renault and Formula 3. In this way, the RSF believes it will enable up to four talented aces to progress up the race driving leagues instead of having to abandon their ambitions because of a lack of funds.
The RSF founder Graham Sharp: “I have always been a dedicated car racing fan and I recognise the struggles many young British hopefuls have in terms of advancing their craft all the way to Formula 1. With the RSF, we intend to find the most talented drivers at an early stage and if they’re ambitious and focused but are being frustrated by a shortage of funds, we will help them.”
John Surtees: “This is a truly worthy initiative that British racing has been crying out for. Unlike many other countries where funding is available from both public and private sectors, the UK has little to offer and I have no doubt that many talented Grand Prix hopefuls have had their ambitions dashed by lack of money. I will be working closely with the RSF to make sure that British talent is identified early and where necessary, funding assistance is provided”.
For the 2008 season, Carlin Motorsport has been chosen for the Formula 3 entrant, Fortec Motorsport for Formula Renault and the karting beneficiaries have yet to be chosen. As to drivers, so far Cambridge University Engineering undergraduate Oliver Turvey who has successfully competed in karting, Formula Renault and Formula BMW and who won the coveted McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award in 2006, will have the RSF Formula 3 drive next year.
Trevor Carlin: “Opportunities like this do not come along often! I would like to think that it is a measure of our consistent success that has brought the RSF to us, but I also know that in Oliver Turvey we have an excellent chance of delivering a good result for the Foundation in 2008”.
Richard Dutton, principal of Fortec: “Formula Renault has proved to be an increasingly vital stepping stone for young drivers who have their sights on F1. I am working hard with the RSF right now to find the best candidate for the Formula Renault drive and have great hopes for the coming season”.
Website: a website carrying all necessary information on the RSF is currently under construction. This will not only explain the philosophy of the Foundation but also include full details and links to the teams and the drivers plus results pages regularly updated. To be launched later this month.
Racing Steps Foundation - administrationThe RSF will be managed on a day-to-day basis by the retained consultants: Derek Walters (Worldsport Management Ltd) and Simon Pearson, working with founder Graham Sharp. The team will be working closely with ‘ambassador’ John Surtees and “Karting Guru” and multiple FIA kart Champion, Martin Hines, to first identify the beneficiaries, then to ensure their correct progress in their chosen formulae while keeping an eye on education, personal fitness and all other aspects of the role of being a successful international racing driver.
