Glan-Y-Gors Super One (North Wales)

The demanding picturesque track of Glan-Y-Gors in North Wales, sited between Corwen and Betwys-Coed on the A5, played host to round 4 of the British S1 Championship this weekend, where the track drowned under a deluge in the (allegedly) drought ridden country!

Under immensely difficult conditions, where their Formula 1 'big brothers' were suffering from the same weather conditions at more or less the same moment in Montreal, some skilful driving displays were delivered for the bedraggled crowd.

Racing Steps Foundation driver Ben Barnicoat drove exceptionally well in the prestigious KF3 class, whilst his efforts in the final (see image above) clearly showed the effort he was putting into his performance.  Towards the last few laps he was pushed hard George Russell, forcing Ben to rise to the challenge. "I knew I had to get everything perfect on the last lap to pull a tiny margin," he said afterwards, "so I could take the win... and that is exactly what I did!"

BBC2 recently ran an excellent documentary about two of the rising stars of British motor-sport, which can be found on the BBC i-Player:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zgy75/My_Life_Series_2_Boyracers/

Jake Dennis, the 2010 U-18 World Champion, racing for the RSF (Racing Steps Foundation), and Ben Barnicoat, who spent most of 2010 racing in top flight events as a family funded privateer, but who achieved McLaren Mercedes recognition by seasons end, are names to look out for in the future.

Although rivals last year Jake will be amongst the Senior ranks in 2011, where he will be pitting his skills against multiple champions from across the world, whilst Ben will remain in the Junior ranks. Undoubtedly, both will meet again on-track in the coming years as they progress up the racing ladder.

Both have names that the British public should try to remember, because they are part of the elite British talent who are coming through karting.

Silverstone - Racing Steps Foundation

Before the major World Series by Renault event at Silverstone this weekend, the Racing Steps Foundation, who are tasked with funding selected up-and-coming British racing talent, arranged a photo-shoot and media day in the BRDC Club at the famous Grand Prix track. The five chosen drivers, all supremely talented, and all with outstanding karting CV's, were on hand to meet with the members of the media.

From left to right in the above photograph is karting champion Jake Dennis, with Formula Renault winner James Calado next. Top representative Oliver Turvey is in the middle, racing in the 3.5 litre Renault World Series class, and fresh from his astonishingly competent victory in Monte Carlo just a few weeks earlier. Next along is the superbly laid-back Jack Harvey, now in Formula BMW, but who won the Asian-Pacific title at Suzuka in Japan last year, with last but not least, another rising karting star Jacob Stilp, whose father Daniel and his uncle Jonathan had in previous years set earlier roots for Jacob to grow from.

The Racing Steps Foundation (RSF) is vitally important to these five drivers, and is an incredibly forward-thinking organisation that provides these talented individuals, with funding to help take them up the racing ladder, at a time when their racing careers might otherwise grind to a halt.

Formula 1 is possible - could Oliver Turvey be the next British driver, with RSF support, to make that move..?