15.08.08 TURVEY WINS FIRST EVER FULL BLUE FOR MOTORSPORT Friday, 15 August 2008: British Formula 3 title chaser, Oliver Turvey, made history at Silverstone yesterday when he received the first ever Cambridge Blue to be awarded for motor sport. He then promptly followed it up with his third consecutive pole of the season ahead of tomorrow's first race. The Extraordinary Full Blue was presented to the 21 years-old Racing Steps Foundation driver on the grid at Silverstone by Dr John Little, secretary of the university Men's Blues Committee. "I'm immensely proud," said Turvey, who also claimed a second front row start this afternoon. "To get a full Cambridge Blue is a huge honour and long overdue recognition for motorsport. "It's the most prestigious accolade you can receive for sporting achievement at Cambridge and in all reality reflects the tremendous support I've received over the years from so many people." The Cambridge engineering undergraduate, who has successfully juggled university and racing commitments throughout the year, added: "To say it's been an extraordinary year for me is to understate what's actually happened over the last 12 hectic months. "Quite literally the Racing Steps Foundation stepped in at the end of last year and saved my racing career with a fully-funded drive in F3 with Carlin Motorsport. Then a few short weeks ago, I learned I'd made it through my third year at university successfully. And now I've got a Full Blue. "What a year! The plan now is to cap it off with the F3 Championship." On hand to watch the presentation of the Blue was BRDC President Damon Hill. The 1996 F1 World Champion - who oversaw the Turvey's enrolment onto the elite BRDC Superstars programme earlier this year - said: "His commitment to his education, in addition to his driving career is unusual in motor sport and sets new standards of aspiration and attainment." Britain's 'Mr Karting', Martin Hines, whose Zip Young Guns team gave Turvey an early leg up in his racing career, was also at Silverstone to witness the award. He described Turvey as "a champion in waiting." Within 24 hours of the presentation Turvey was back on track, qualifying on the front row of the grid for tomorrow's two races. So far this season has raced to eight podium finishes including three pole positions and two wins. His aim now is to add a further two. Turvey will receive further recognition tomorrow when RSF ambassador John Surtees presents him with the Dunhill 'Future Champion' prize. The award - made last month by Goodwood Festival of Speed founder Lord March - aims to pinpoint the up-and-coming British driver with the best chance of lifting a top motor sport title. At the close of the F3 season Turvey will return to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to complete his Masters course from which he aims to emerge with BA (Hons) and M.Eng degrees. His final year dissertation will be on F1 aerodynamics. Tony Purnell, his visiting professor at Cambridge, former head of the F1 Jaguar / Red Bull Racing operation and now advisor to world motor sport governing body the FIA says:"This will give him an 'unfair advantage' as Formula 1 starts to use hybrid and emission-reducing technology." That's premature thinking, says Turvey. "First I've got to win the F3 title and then move on to one of the F1 feeder series." << back to news