Staircase of Talent

2014 has started well for many of my racing colleagues from the world of karting, who have progressed nicely up the sporting ladder, to potentially knock on the doors of greatness.

I bumped into Oliver Rowland at the weekend during a visit to PF International in Lincolnshire, where he was helping out the Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) Zip team.  Oliver had just returned from a Formula Renault 3.5 test at Monza in Italy the previous day, where he was preparing for his RSF World Series by Renault debut this year.

It has been a couple of years since we last met (see earlier blog post below from his Monaco 'shifter' race in 2011), and even from his younger Cadet days, Oliver Rowland, like Lewis Hamilton, I have always believed in.  For me he has always been a personable chap, very friendly and approachable,which is a trait that should serve him well as he hopefully moves forward... towards Formula 1?

                                                           Testing at PFI this weekend.
In his earlier days Oliver was the driver to beat, where he was supported by his dad Dave, who is sadly no longer with us.  Dave was a former racing rival to my brothers Andrew and Kieran in 100 National back in the mid-1980's, and he would have been one mighty proud parent to see where his eldest son was in the sport today.

Seeing Oliver again prompted me to dig an image out of the old Cadet archive, taken ironically at PF International, the scene of his latest test this weekend, where he was the proud owner of the prestigious 'GP' plate, which only the best ever win.

                                           Pole position for the Cadet final at PF International

Oliver has been a race winner in every class he has raced in.  I do not anticipate 2014 in WSR being any different - watch this space.