Performing
at the pinnacle of motor sport commandeering a Formula One car majestically
around the most beautiful racing circuits in the world, is a dream for so many
young people. A few of those harbouring
this dream embark on a long journey of learning and polishing the skills they
will need to enter this world. With many
different series and categories existing to provide aspiring young racers with
arenas to do just that, I interviewed Ryan Smith, an eighteen year old from Edinburgh
The British Rental Karting Championship
is a series run over six races, held at varying tracks with the goal being that
the competitors demonstrate the skills needed not only to achieve well at one
type of circuit, but to be able to adapt driving skill and style to all types. Races are held inside and outside with other
variations including speed and length of the track, therefore the drivers
achieving well in the Championship are those who can master them all. However
well a driver can adapt to different tracks though, there will always be one
that is more suited to their individual style.
“I like the bigger circuits, they tend
to suit my style a bit more and there is plenty of room to overtake. We have a mix of bigger and smaller circuits
on our calendar, but on the smaller circuits it can be impossible to overtake
cleanly, even if you are much quicker than the guy in front.” “Raceland in Edinburgh
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Although still working towards his
first win, Ryan has graced the podium after coming third in round two this
season. His appearance was slightly
tinged with disappointment though.
“It was a great feeling getting to
spray the champagne for the first time, but at the same time I was disappointed
because I had lost second on the run to the line. But it was still a great result, even if I
couldn’t quite see it that way at the time.”
With 110 drivers entered for the
championship over the season, Ryan is currently running an impressive seventh,
and at the pointy end of the table will be looking around at his main
rivals.
“There
are so many great drivers that it is impossible to only highlight one driver as
a main rival, but I think the person everyone wants to beat is Lee
Hackett. He is the reigning champion and
current championship leader. I have had
two incredible races with him over the past year. He is a great driver and very difficult to
beat, so to have a close race with him is always good.”
Lee Hackett has taken victories at two
rounds so far this year, but this doesn’t mean he can’t be caught as Ryan explained,
“Each driver is allowed to drop their
worst result at the end of the season, and on drop round scores there are only
two points between Lee and Sean Brierley.
They are both very good drivers so I think it will be very close between
them for the title this year.”
Ryan may not have been too far away from
this battle but for some slight disappointments.
“I was originally hoping for a top three
finish at the end of the year but my season hasn’t gone quite as well as
planned, but I would be happy finishing in the top five.”
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Passion for racing is often ignited by
older generations and Ryan is no different, although it was a certain British
Formula One driver who motivated him to make the leap into the world of motor
sport.
“My Dad and my Uncle used to race, so
hearing them talk about it made me want to try it, but I couldn’t due to
football commitments. But when Lewis
Hamilton joined F1, I thought it was really cool so I got my parents to take me,
and it went from there.” “I have always admired Lewis Hamilton a lot. He has a great driving style and watching him
race is what made me want to start racing.”
Lewis Hamilton is joined by some
legendary drivers on Ryan’s list of inspirational racers. “I
also take a lot of inspiration from Ayrton Senna and Sir Jackie Stewart. They are both legends of the sport and were
incredible drivers.”
First driving a kart in the same year
Lewis Hamilton made his Formula One debut, Ryan had to wait until 2009 to drive
a proper race when he joined the Junior Championship at Raceland, his local
circuit, and finished third in the championship in his first year. It was then time to think about his next
steps.
“I really enjoyed racing at Raceland, but
there was only so much I could do there and I wanted to get into a more serious
championship. When I heard about BRKC I
thought I’d give it a go”. Last year I
was originally planning on only doing the first round, but I ended up doing the
whole season and finished seventh in the end.”
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Being able to progress in this currency
controlled sport is the biggest challenge faced by young drivers,
“I would love to get into single seater
racing. It feels like that would be the
best way for me to go from karting.”
“Motor sport is a very expensive business, and to go any further I would
need to get a lot of sponsorship. I
think that I could go pretty well if I was given the opportunity. I just hope that one day I am given the
opportunity to prove what I could do at the next level.”
For every young driver there is an
ultimate goal being strived for,
“ I want to make a career for myself as a
racing driver and to be successful.”
The most successful in this business reach
Formula One and hopefully one day we will see Ryan getting to drive the F1
circuit that most excites him,
“Spa – Francorchamps. I just love the combination of corners and
the fast, flowing nature of the circuit.
Especially Eau Rouge. Going
through there at full speed in an F1 car must be insane.”
And
he may drive there in an Audi R8 or an Aston Martin; his favourite road cars…
If
anyone is interested in sponsoring Ryan, contact him via twitter @ryansmith94
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