Motorsport By Amanda Little

Last updated at 11:12, Friday, 05 December 2008

Cumbrian motor-racing star Oliver Turvey has set himself a two-year plan to land a seat in Formula One alongside former rival Lewis Hamilton.

Councillor Tom Clare presents the Sports Personality of the Year award to Oliver Turvey

The newly-crowned Cumbrian sports personality of the year is weighing up his options for next year after finishing second in this year’s British Formula Three Championship.

Turvey, 21, has just returned from Valencia in Spain, where he was testing a car ahead of next year’s Renault World Series, and is also being considered for a seat in GP2. Both championships are the breeding ground for F1 drivers, with GP 2 producing Hamilton – his former rival in karting – and the Renault World Series producing Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica.

Turvey, from Langwathby, near Penrith, said: “I’m still looking at my options and I’m hoping to join the most competitive team I can. I would be looking at F1 for either 2010 or 2011 and if I was to win a championship next year I will hopefully get an offer.

“The Renault World Series car is very similar to the GP2 car only not as powerful but it does have a smaller budget than GP2.

“Either way, it would be a big step up for me next season and will be a good way to advance my career.

“I will only do GP2 if I can get a top team so I can be competitive. If I was to do the Renault World Series, I would stick with the Carlin Motorsport team.”

Turvey is determined to bounce back from his disappointment of losing the British Formula 3 crown last season, despite holding the lead in the championship going into the final race of the season at Donington Park.

He joined the start grid with a 12-point lead, but a poor qualifying performance for the second race effectively handed the title to team-mate Jaime Alguersuari, who won both races to become the youngest ever British F3 champion and the first from Spain.

Turvey’s racing career is funded by the Racing Steps Foundation, which has pledged to support him again next season, and help him secure the near £1million budget to step up the motor racing ladder. He said: “I feel as if I’ve learned everything I can F3 and it’s time to step up.

“It was disappointing not to win the title. Looking back, if I had gone into the last race in second place, I would have been happy to secure second.

“But after leading the championship for the last three rounds, it was disappointing. The consolation is that is was a strong year overall and I was pleased with my performances.”

First published at 05:23, Friday, 05 December 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk