The Rise of British Talent…

Britain has famously mixed success in the sports arena with high hopes always pinned on its National teams. However, in the motorsport world, Britain is a ‘player’ and the last few years has seen some serious, World class talent rising through the ranks to the very pinnacle of the sport.

F1 remains the ‘World Championship’ and has witnessed multiple British World Champions in the past. Following a break of 12 years, Damon Hill in 1996, Lewis Hamilton claimed the title in 2008 and Jenson Button in 2009. Hamilton took a second championship in 2014 and already leads the charge this season. If you think he is going to make it a hat-trick of titles William Hill offers the best odds to bet on F1. Long time British fan favourite Jenson button continues to battle hard this season with McLaren and we look forward to seeing his return to success as the season develops. Also on the grid is Will Stevens, the Essex driver first appeared with Caterham in 2014 and in 2015 has a drive in the Manor Marussia Team. Oxfordshire based team Williams, known for spotting new talent, currently has Susie Wolff in the ‘test seat’. Wolff was under a second off Massa’s time in FP1 in Spain…

WRC has had its share of British champions over the years with legends such as Colin McCrae and Richard Burns flying the flag but recent years has seen limited success for our drivers. However last month this all changed as the Citroen driver/co driver combo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle won the WRC Argentina Rally. It was a successful weekend as Welsh rally driver Elfyn Evans and co-driver Daniel Barritt were also on the podium in 3rd making it a stunning British return to the World Rally stage. This is the first time two Brits have taken to the WRC podium since Rally New Zealand in 2001 with the late greats – Colin McRae and Richard Burns. Rally still remains the most popular form of club motorsport with more clubs and competitors than any other form of motorsport in the UK.

In Moto GP we have never had it so good, historically Barry Sheene was the last British GP World Champion on two wheels taking the title in 1977, but over the last few years more and more British riders have emerged in motorcycles equivalent to F1. Riders such as James Toseland, Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith, Michael Laverty, Sam Lowes, Danny Kent, Scott Redding, John McPhee, Gino Rea have all stepped onto the grid and more importantly some have taken podiums. Scott Redding remains the youngest ever GP winner, taking that title at the age of 15 at the British GP in 2008. In 2013 the Gloucestershire rider just missed out on taking the Moto2 Championship. This season has already seen a 4th place by Cal Crutchlow now with Honda following a stint at for the Ducati works team, a hard racer with the talent to back it up – Cal being back on the podium again is only a matter of time. In Moto2 Sam Lowes, now in his second season has clearly demonstrated that he has the pace having taken a win and a 2nd place already in the opening rounds there is a lot more to come from the 2013 Supersport World Champion. Danny Kent has made an absolutely stunning start to the year with 3 straight victories, currently leading the championship in the highly competitive Moto3 Championship.

World Superbikes have always had a strong British contingent in the paddock; Carl Fogarty won the title 4 times and dominated during his career. Following his retirement further world titles were won by Neil Hodgson and James Toseland – James taking the title in 2004 and 2007. The last few seasons has seen British riders once again be the riders to beat with Tom Sykes winning the title in 2013 and a close runner up in 2014. Current riders include Leon Camier, Chaz Davies, Alex Lowes, Jonathan Rea & Leon Haslam. Jonathan Rea has just taken his 3rd double race win for this season and leads the WSBK Championship by 87 points. In World Supersport, Gino Rea took a 3rd in Australia; Kyle Smith has taken two 3rds already this season. Kevin Coghlan is currently 4th in World Superstock and in the European Junior Cup look out for hard chargers Josh Harland, Stefan Hill, Daniel Drayton and Sam Wilford.

In World Endurance racing, (WEC), we have seen the retirement of the hugely successful multiple Le Mans winning and 2013 FIA WEC Champion Alan McNish. Fans are sorry to see the Scot step away from WEC but interestingly Alan continues to work in the paddock supporting new talent and promoting ‘sportsman’ etiquette to young drivers. In LMP1 Anthony Davidson was crowned 2014 WEC Champion with team mate Sébastien Buemi driving for Toyota, the ex-F1 racer turned to racing sports cars in 2009 and has not looked back. Other drivers include Harry Tincknell in LMP1, Nick Leventis LMP2, Darren Turner LMGT Pro who continue to fly the flag in 2015.

This is only a snapshot of the World Championships at the top of World motorsport on two and four wheels and we continue to see new British talent having success in the multiple championships that feed this top tier…. long may it continue. Rule Britannia.

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