Following three days of competitive tests, eighteen year-old James Calado from Pershore, Worcestershire, is to take the RSF Formula Renault seat for the Foundation’s inaugural season in 2008.

In a very close contest against four top racers, Calado, a former Martin Hines ‘Young Gun’, won the opportunity after succeeding first in a race simulator session at Fortec Motorsport then at a two-day track test at Rockingham this week involving runners-up Tom Arme and Matthew Hamilton: images available – see editor’s notes below.

RSF Ambassador John Surtees MBE: "This has been a very revealing exercise on a number of levels. We have seen some remarkable talent both on the Fortec simulator and at Rockingham. The final decision was agonising as all three were so close, but in James we feel we have the right combination of talents: speed, car control, valuable engineering feed-back and personal chemistry."

Calado, who had barely sat in a single seat race car before this week, impressed the RSF consultants and the Fortec team with his all round capability. "The transition from karts to Formula Renault is a giant step," said Richard Dutton, principal of Fortec: "But James managed it in just two days of testing to the extent he narrowly saw off the opposition. With the RSF, we have an exciting year ahead."

For 2008 the RSF will help a small number of young drivers at three levels: karting, Formula Renault and Formula 3. The RSF believes it will enable these aces to progress up the race driving leagues instead of having to abandon their ambitions because of a lack of funds.

While Fortec Motorsport has been chosen to run the RSF Formula Renault entry next year, Carlin Motorsport will be entering Oliver Turvey, the 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner, in the 2008 Formula 3 Championship. The RSF karting beneficiaries will be announced soon.