11.11.07 TURVEY SIGNS FOR RACING STEPS FOUNDATION TO COMPETE IN BRITISH F3 WITH CARLIN A new foundation, The Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) has been established to help ambitious young British racing drivers to realise their dreams. 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 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. For the 2008 season, Carlin Motorsport has been chosen for the Formula 3 entrant, with Oliver Turvey been selected for the RSF British Formula 3 drive next year. Oliver has successfully competed in Karting, Formula Renault and Formula BMW as well as winning the coveted McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award in 2006. Alongside his intensive racing schedule he is studying for a Masters Engineering Degree at Cambridge University. 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". "Oliver has never been well-funded but by his own hard graft he has made it into Cambridge University, finished second in the 2006 Formula BMW UK Championship despite starting the season late, and won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. I gave him a try in the Team GBR A1GP car last season and he performed with a lot of maturity, gave good feedback and is of sound ability." 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". << back to news