As you can read above, former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Oliver Turvey has already been selected for the F3 drive. Six candidates for the Formula Renault were shortlisted from drivers in Formula BMW, Formula Ford and karting and each driver interviewed and evaluated in a simulator. The three remaining candidates will take part in a "shoot-out" for the seat later this month. An initiative such as this is a step in the right direction (and is aptly named so). However, it is still a little wide of the mark. To begin with, candidates were selected in private and without any process of nomination, application or public consultation. What's more, the very existence of the initiative was not made public until the final stages of the selection process. In addition, the selection criteria itself was unimaginative. What is known is that the shortlist of candidates was based on drivers with experience of British Formula Ford, Formula BMW and karting. With a front-running British Formula Ford budget in excess of £120,000 and the Formula BMW UK equivalent potentially double that, the RSF has from the outset pledged its support to drivers who have already enjoyed access to substantial funding. What the RSF represents is progression up the professional junior ladder and founder Graham Sharp should be applauded. Whilst we know nothing about the economics behind the initiative, it is entirely plausible to assume that he has himself pledged a large amount of money upfront. (Possibly around £1,000,000 if you assume Formula Renault UK is £300,000 and British Formula Three is £600,000). But what bothers me more is that the overwhelming majority of youngsters who get involved in British motorsport and achieve crucial success are still no less constrained. It is the financial bridge between club and national motorsport which needs an RSF. For the plethora of talent in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Vee or SaxMax (to name but a few) a couple of £80,000 (or Formula Palmer Audi drive) scholarships would be of much greater impact and for what is potentially less than 10% of the current initiatives value, possibly more cost effective too. It is the under-funded club racing Champions in this country who need a Racing Steps Foundation more than anybody else.Source pitpass.comA 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". The 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.
The Racing Steps Foundation… almost.
November 8th, 2007
The motorsport press (Autosport, Pitpass, Motorsport News) is reporting a new funding initiative setup to help young British drivers reach the pinnacle of the sport (F1). Founded by businessman Graham Sharp, the Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) will provide two drivers with a fully funded seat in 2008. The two drives will be with Fortec Motorsport in Formula Renault UK and also Carlin Motorsport in British Formula Three.
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