Seven reasons why now is the time to step up your motor racing career

The decision to move your career forward is always a difficult one. A number of categories offer benefits to the talented drivers who have the self-belief and confidence required to dream big and get on with the job.

Both in Australia and across the globe, the junior open wheel categories have shown again and again that they build a maturity and skill base for a driver that can never be ignored.

Just google every Formula 1 driver or V8 Supercar driver that you can think of, and you will see them in a Formula Ford, a Formula BMW or a Formula 3. Usually, these guys will also have an impressive array of trophies in the cabinet as this is how they were able to progress up the ladder.

Is it luck? Or did these successful individuals know something?

As the saying goes, it’s not rocket science, a career in motorsport has a well-worn path to success and there is no need to re-invent the wheel like so many try to do.

Lets look locally, here in Australia, you have Formula Ford which is experiencing some of the best fields and drivers that we have seen in years. The class has been re-structured with it’s origins in mind, it’s cheaper, and you have the choice of the big teams, or a more hands on approach. Both of which have proven to work.

The Formula Ford class instils a fantastic work ethic in the drivers both on and off the track and rewards smooth, fast drivers who have a mature head. If you don’t have these traits, you will know it very quickly as you see those who do driving away.

The pathway to success is strengthened by F3 in Australia, and the AF3 management team have come up with an impressive set of regulations and race events that showcase our best talent at our best race events in our best cars at a very reasonable price.

A partnership between AF3M, Mygale and HWA Mercedes has seen the top class run only Mercedes engines which are now cheaper and have double the life between rebuilds. The service from HWA is second to none, and engines last two full seasons. As they are fully sealed and ECU locked, there is no need to spend money on dyno’s and such.

Shocks have now been locked down and you must run the two way Koni unit. These are cheaper to maintain and buy. Reducing the massive investment that can be made by teams and drivers in shock technology.

The big question for F3 is of course the price of parts when you have an off. The great thing about F3 is that most drivers come through the Formula Ford ranks and by the time they advance to the wings and slicks formula, they have a mature approach to their racing. But when it does happen, AF3 management have put on track insurance in place, enabling the team and driver to control the risk of a big dollar incident.

Most drivers will work with a sponsor at this level to cover the cost of the insurance policy as their first priority.

The class is now a very sound investment in a young drivers career, something that Mark Webber is well aware of as he slotted Mitch Evans into a Sonic Mygale Formula Ford in 2009 and into a Team BRM F3 car in 2010. This was Mark’s idea of the perfect preparation for Mitch’s move to Europe into GP3 and now GP2.

The question on everyone’s lips is FIA F4.

The global junior class is the first rung on the FIA’s pathway to Formula 1. The great thing about this class is the backing it has received worldwide by the ASN’s. ( National Sporting Authority’s such as CAMS in Australia )

The men behind the class, Jean Todt and Gerhard Berger at the FIA have the experience and political muscle to make this class an outstanding success. At this point there are already four countries on track for a 2015 start, with Australia already placing the first order for FIA Formula 4. The cars are modern yet simple, and appeal to the young drivers looking to make a career. The cars, parts and engines are very well priced and the FIA has taken the unprecedented move of setting the retail price for all of these. Gerhard Berger has years of experience as the man behind Formula BMW and he knows the benefits of a learning class with an attainable cost structure.

These cars have cool looks, the latest FIA safety features and come with aluminium wings that generate limited down force, with little or no adjustment.

They will need to be set-up very well to take advantage of mechanical grip. They move around and require a fine balance to drive them fast.

With a slick tyre package the FIA F4 has the advantage of preparing a driver for the next step, which is always going to involve slicks and wets.

So, seven reasons you should step up and move your career forward…

1. Formula Ford… It’s cheaper and better than ever…. A proven winner for your career.

2. FIA Formula 4… Racing at the biggest and best events in 2015 the cost effective way… but if you want to win… you need to be ready.

3. Formula 3… winning at this level means you are ready for the next step in your career.

4. Opportunity… Change in the motorsport landscape always means opportunity…. With Formula Ford moving to a new low cost formula and FIA Formula 4 arriving with a bang, if your smart and savvy, teams will be looking to showcase themselves and their drivers on the podium.

5. The world wide proven pathway…. Open wheel race cars teach the driver, the engineer, and the team everything required to make it at the top level and has done for the last 60 plus years. There is no substitute for open wheel experience no matter where you want to race.

6. The CAMS commitment… CAMS have committed to young Australian drivers like never before… over the years the CAMS Rising Star program has opened the door for numerous young drivers, but now CAMS are working hand in hand with the FIA on Formula 4 and they should be applauded for their foresight and commitment. Now is the time for young drivers to get involved and take advantage.

7. Assistance… there are so many skilled individuals who are willing and able to assist a young driver… Start by taking part in a program such as the ‘Race Academy’ (was Arrow Rewards ). You learn the realities of your choices and drive some of the best open wheel cars in Australia. A great way to get to know the cars and the people that have proven success.

Bonus reason!

Recognition… never underestimate the recognition the drivers receive from the open wheel classes in Australia. Michael Ritter at Sonic Motor Racing Services has been one of the most influential people in not only recognising, but assisting drivers to step up. The list of outstanding Australian talent that Michael has been behind through his Sonic race team is astounding. One of the earliest is Jamie Whincup and one of the latest is Anton DePasquale.

Motorsport alumni in all areas, team owners, sponsors, engineers, crew and other drivers across the globe look to these open wheel classes to take on the next Ricciardo or Webber….

Round Review

USA F1600 F

Round 1, Road Atlanta