Who is Will Stevens ?

The Story So Far

Having established himself at a World Championship level in karate as a black belt junior, Will turned his sporting attentions to kart racing in 2002. His introduction to karting came through a family friend and he immediately knew his long term ambitions would be in motor sport.
Will’s achievements throughout his karting career are virtually unparalleled. In taking 10 major National and International titles by the time he was 16 and having established himself as one of the leading karters in the World he made the transition to motor racing at the end of the 2008 season.
It was Will’s reputation in karts that led to the contract to join Honda Formula 1 Racing Team’s Driver Development Programme. This was signed in April 2008 and comprised a long term agreement to support Will through his racing career to his ultimate goal, F1. Honda’s subsequent decision to withdraw from F1 came as a complete surprise to everyone involved but the Brawn GP Team, which successfully emerged to take over the Honda F1 operation, are also continuing Will’s contract under their own driver programme (see the previous post on this here : http://f1-in-singapore.blogspot.com/2009/06/brawn-gp-continue-to-support-will.html).

The transition from karts to cars in not an easy one and the winter of 2008/9 was spent testing with his new team, Fortec Motorsport in the Formula Renault UK category, the top junior class in the UK and Europe. In addition, he gained experienced competing in the UK and Portugese Winter Series and the Toyota racing Series in New Zealand, taking 6 podiums in his first 17 races.
His objective for the 2009 Season is the Formula Renault UK Championship, the top junior category in the UK. The series is a notoriously difficult Championship to win, especially for a rookie in his first year, but one where many of the current F1 drivers learned their craft.

Now 17 years old, Will’s racing career is the key part of his life. His commitments to racing, testing and training mean that time is a valuable commodity. In addition, frequent visits to the Brawn GP headquarters and his Fortec racing team’s base mean that he spends a lot of time away from home. He commented, “I’ve always spent a lot of time away from home throughout my karting career and that has continued now that I’ve started in cars. I actually enjoy the travel and spending time with my team, most of my close friends come from racing, so I’m very lucky to be able spend a lot of my time doing what I love”.

When Will is not away, he spends his time training or playing golf. On his fitness regime he said, “I really enjoy my training sessions now, Martin and Dan at Pro-Performance have helped me enormously with my fitness and its also very enjoyable. I try to get to the gym most week days so my current fitness level is good, I aim to be fit enough for at least the next level of my career at any time, its critically important”.
Will only started playing golf seriously in 2008, “It’s a great way to relax”, he commented, adding “a lot of my friends are good golfers so my natural competitiveness means that I’m working hard on my game to catch them up!”
Will likes to spend his free time with his family, listening to music, on his computer, with the family dogs, Harvey, Buddy and Hugo or out in his road car. In between all of that he likes to make the most of his social life!

Exclusive: Honda will be at Mebourne GP 2009

The Honda Formula One team will be on the grid for the start of the 2009 season after a management buyout. Jenson Button will spearhead the team on the track after two months of intense work on a rescue package by senior managers.

Sources close to the Brackley-based outfit confirmed last night that the deal is going ahead and that the team will conduct a “shakedown” test of their new car at Silverstone next Thursday, which will be Button’s first outing in the new machine.
The management buyout is being led by Ross Brawn, the team principal and former Ferrari technical director, and will be funded by a combination of money from Honda itself for this year, funds from Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One commercial rights-holder, and commercial sponsorship. Recent reports suggested that Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group could be a backer but this was being ruled out by informed sources last night.

It is not yet known under what name the team will operate or in what livery their cars will race. Under independent management, with a chassis designed by Honda and powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine under a supply deal with McLaren Mercedes, the “old” Honda team will be something of a hybrid that is likely to take some time to forge a new identity.

At Silverstone, the new car is expected to run in neutral colours. That outing will be followed by the team’s first full test in Barcelona, starting on March 9, which is the last official run-out before the first grand prix of the season in Melbourne on March 29.
While Button is confirmed in one race seat, no decision has been taken on his team-mate. This will be either Rubens Barrichello, the Brazilian, who has been with Honda for the past three seasons, or his compatriot and Formula One rookie, Bruno Senna, 25, the nephew of the great Ayrton Senna.
The buyout is expected to safeguard the jobs of “the majority” of the team’s 700 employees and was approved at a board meeting of the Honda Motor Co Ltd in Tokyo last Monday. After that meeting, Takeo Fukui, the company’s chief executive, was quoted as saying that no “serious buyer” had come forward and the company was finding the sale process “difficult”.
His comments were taken at the time as a sign that winding up the team was still a likely outcome, but it now seems that these remarks were misinterpreted.
The decision by Honda to approve and support the buyout which is regarded as highly unorthodox by senior managers in Tokyo, is a sensitive matter for a company that had made clear to its shareholders that it was withdrawing from a sport that was costing it more than £200 million a year.
While Button will be relieved to have a drive in his tenth season in Formula One, it looks likely to be another frustrating year in a car that has had a difficult birth and is unlikely to be competitive, at least in the early races.

Elsewhere yesterday, Sir Frank Williams dismissed reports that his team were in financial trouble as a result of the decision by RBS to end its sponsorship of the team in 2010. Williams said that RBS contributes only 10 per cent of the team’s budget and there was plenty of time to find a replacement sponsor from 2011 onwards.
“Don’t worry, there’s hundreds of trillions of cash in the world — something will turn up,” quipped Williams, who added that he was dismayed by a story that suggested his team, and the sport as a whole, is in difficulty. “It was presented as though it was the end of the world for Formula One, which is totally, totally untrue,” he said.

Virgin-Honda for 2009 line-up ?

Sir Richard Branson has revealed for the first time he "might be interested" in becoming involved in Formula One.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone confirmed earlier this week Branson's Virgin Group "would love" to take on the up-for-sale Honda Racing.
The team stunned the world of motor sport in early January when they announced their immediate withdrawal from Formula One due to the effects of the global economic crisis.
It had been hoped a new owner would soon be found to allow Honda, in whatever new guise, to be on the grid for the season-opening race in Australia in five weeks' time.
A management buy-out, led by current CEO Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn, has been mooted for some time.
That was until news of the emergence of Branson's Virgin Group came to the fore a few days ago.

However, Branson is refusing to confirm that. Speaking on Saturday, he instead suggested F1 needs to clean up its act first due to its tag as one of the most pollutant sports on the planet.
Initially trying to sidestep the issue, a smiling Branson told BBC News: "If we are in discussions then I wouldn't be allowed to say because there would be some kind of clause which would prohibit me talking about it."
But when pressed on the issue, he added: "I love grands prix.

"If Bernie Ecclestone can make it more cost-effective for the likes of the Virgin brand to come into the sport, and if he can champion clean motor-car racing, which is possible to do by making sure all the cars run on clean fuels, at some stage we might be interested in getting involved."
Branson, though, refused to be drawn on whether he was in talks with Honda, repeating: "If there were I wouldn't be allowed to tell you, so I can't clarify it I'm afraid."
He later added on BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think that there are faults there that would need to be rectified before we moved into Formula One.
"(But) with the Virgin brand expanding on a global basis, it is certainly something that is attractive."
Honda were the team who at least promoted a 'greener' image with their 'earth dreams' initiative during the last two seasons.
The team opted to run their cars without sponsorship logos, preferring instead a pixellated image of the earth to promote global awareness.
But without sponsors, and with a £300million-per-year budget to service, owners Honda Motor Co. in Japan had to face up to the harsh reality of the economic downturn.
World governing body, the FIA, in conjunction with the Formula One Teams' Association, have since been forced to act quickly to stop other teams from going to the wall.
Cost-cutting measures have been imposed, with others due to be enforced over time to ensure all teams are soon operating on a budget of 50million euros (£45million).
The sport is also turning to bio-fuel to help try to reduce its carbon footprint, so steps are being made in the direction Branson is seeking.
The question is whether Branson and his advisors can be convinced in time to take over the team for this year as the clock is ticking and deadlines are approaching.

One is understood to be with regard to Mercedes, as the German company are to provide engines.
However, it is believed a deadline set for the team to prove they have the finances in place to pay for the power-plants is looming.

Danica Patrick Becoming First Woman in Formula 1?

American driver of the Indy Car championships, Danica Partick, could very easily become the first woman in the Formula 1 world.
After her recent victory at the Indy Car championships, Danica, who comes from a Serbian-American mixed marriage, has found herself in the limelight. Considering how things are at the moment, she could be sitting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race-car. Hand to heart, she would only be a test driver for Honda, but we should not forget that many F1 pilots began their careers as test drivers.
The American racer’s wish was met with approval from Honda’s chiefs. That this is not only for promotional purposes is proven by Danica Patrick’s determination not to drive at any sorts of show races. She is interested in real test drives, cooperating with the mechanics and so on.
- Every racer is interested in Formula 1. We would all love to sit in a Formula 1 race car and I am no different. Three years ago I was asked to drive several promotional circles in a F1 race car at the Grand Prix of America, which made me rather angry. I am not interested in those sorts of things, I don’t want to make a show out of it. What I am really interested in is real work on the race car, trying out different tyre options, petrol amounts and things like that – she said for Autosport.hr.
Honda confirmed the news, although they say they had not had any official talks regarding the schedule.

Will we soon be seeing the first woman race in Formula 1? It is hard to say, but it certainly would be interesting.

Rubens Barrichello : The Most Experienced Driver In Formula 1

As the Formula 1 circus hits Istanbul in Turkey, a landmark will be reached in this race. Rubens Barrichello will become the most experienced driver in Formula 1 with 257 Grand Prix starts, surpassing Riccardo Patrese's record of 256.

The 35 year-old from São Paulo, Brazil has been in Formula 1 for 15 years and has won 9 Grand Prix and been on the podium 61 times with 13 poles, 16 fastest laps and 519 career points in what has been an up-and-down career for the plucky Brazilian.

He started his career with Jordan in 1993 and continued there until 1996. His first year at the team turned out to be a very effective rookie year for him.He made a big impression in his 3rd Grand Prix, running as high as 2nd before retiring, and outpacing his three team-mates that season, Ivan Capelli, Thierry Boutsen and Eddie Irvine. He scored a 5th place at the Japanese Grand Prix in is only points finish that season.

1994 started well for Rubens with a 4th and 3rd place in the first two races. However, at the disastrous San Marino Grand Prix, Rubens was involved in a high-speed accident during Friday's practice. The impact at Variante Bassa turned him upside down. This accident knocked him unconscious and threatened his life, with his tongue blocking the airway. He owed his life to some quick action by the officials. He recovered strongly from the crash and at Belgium secured his first pole position. He finished sixth in the Drivers' Standings.

1995 and 1996 were disappointing seasons for Rubens, as he struggled with an uncompetitive car and as his relationship with team boss Eddie Jordan soured. He jumped ship to the new Stewart team for 1997.

1997 and 1998 were difficult seasons for Stewart and Barrichello. The best results he could manage was two fifth places in 1998, but he consistently outperformed his team-mates Jan Magnussen and Jos Verstappen.

1999 was much better for Barrichello as he recorded three podium finishes and led the Brazilian Grand Prix until his engine blew up. His podium at the European Grand Prix came as his team-mate Johnny Herbert won the race. He caught the eye of Ferrari and was snapped up for 2000.

In 2000, Barrichello secured his first Formula 1 win at the German Grand Prix and was consistent with scoring points and podium finishes, but he was often outclassed by the two McLarens and his team-mate Michael Schumacher. He was a reliable number two as he helped Schumi to the world title, beating Mika Hakkinen.

2001 saw Rubens finishing 3rd in the Drivers' standings as he was again a reliable second fiddle to Schumacher, with 10 podium finishes.

From 2002 to 2004, Barrichello was a consistent podium finisher and race winner, and in these three years he finished runner-up to Schumacher in the driver's championship and contributed to Ferrari's increasing dominance of the Constructers' title.

2005 was a sour year as Ferrari struggled with a car on uncompetitive tyres. Barrichello could only muster two second places as he finished 8th in the drivers' standings. But he hopped ship to Honda after becoming frustrated at playing number two to Schumacher.

In 2006, Barrichello and his team-mate Jenson Button were consistent points scorers as Honda enjoyed a good season. Barrichello ended up 7th with 30 points in the Table, 26 behind Button.

Null points were the order of the day in 2007 as Barrichello endured a torrid season as he struggled with an uncompetitive car. His best result was a 9th place as he finished 20th in the drivers' table. However, he pledged another year to Honda in the process.

I can't think of anyone who has been a good servant to F1 more over the years than Rubens has. He's always been there or there-abouts, whether good or bad seasons. This is a tribute to Barrichello as he prepares for his record-braking race.

Super Aguri's F1 future in doubt

The struggling Super Aguri Formula One team said on Wednesday they were considering their future after the collapse of a planned rescue deal.

"Super Aguri F1 team confirms that it has been informed by Magma Group, the potential purchasers of the team, that its investors no longer wish to fund the intended acquisition," the Japanese team said in a statement.

"It is with deep regret that Aguri Suzuki is now forced to consider the future of the team," it added. "However negotiations with other parties continue."

It said a further statement would be issued in due course.

A team source told Reuters that there was now a real risk that Super Aguri would not be able to race in next week's Spanish Grand Prix.

Super Aguri, who barely tested pre-season due to financial constraints, have not joined others in testing at the Circuit de Catalunya this week.

With the cars and spares due to be flown to Barcelona on Saturday for the first race of the year in Europe after three long-haul rounds, the team are in a race against time.

"This could mean that we don't go to the race," said the source.

"Maybe we need a bit more backing from Honda to get us to Barcelona...Our future could be in Honda's hands now, and Bernie's I suppose," the source added, referring to Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

There was no immediate comment from Magma, who had hoped to finalise the purchase by the end of last month.

The group is run by Martin Leach, a former president of Ford Europe as well as ex-chief executive of Maserati and ex-managing director of Mazda Japan.

While they have given no details of their financing plans, media reports have linked Magma to investors in Dubai.

The company's Ultramotive division are based at the same Leafield facility in central England used by Super Aguri and the now-defunct Arrows before them.

Super Aguri, whose drivers are Japan's Takuma Sato and Britain's Anthony Davidson, had hoped the takeover would secure a stable platform for the future after scraping through last season.

The team, founded by former racer Aguri Suzuki, finished ninth of the 11 teams in 2007.

Honda Racing F1 Team signs Will Stevens

Karting star to benefit from Honda support through the junior ranks :

-The Honda Racing Formula 1 Team is delighted to announce that it has signed 16 year old British karting star Will Stevens under a long-term driver support agreement.Will is firmly established as one of the leading young kart racers in the world. For the 2008 season he is racing with the prestigious TonyKart Racing Team in the KF1 class competing in all the major European races, alongside participation in the WSK International Series and the World Cup in Japan.

In 2007, Will won the FiA-CIK KF2 European and Asia-Pacific Championships, along with the International Open Masters KF2 title. He was the 2006 WSK Junior ICA Champion and the 2005 MSA British Junior Champion, in addition to winning five previous national titles.

As Will seeks to progress through the junior motorsport ranks, Honda will assist him in developing to the level of performance that is required to potentially become part of Honda’s Formula One programme in the future.Will visited the Honda Racing F1 Team’s headquarters in Brackley today to meet Team Principal Ross Brawn and Chief Executive Officer Nick Fry, and tour the impressive facilities of the team’s UK operational base.Ron Meadows, Sporting Director for the Honda Racing F1 Team with responsibility for Honda’s Young Driver Programme, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Will to the Honda Racing F1 Team. Will has had a very promising career in karting to date and we very much look forward to assisting his advancement through the ranks of the junior formulae towards achieving his ultimate ambition to race in Formula One. Honda considers the development of emerging motorsport talent to be a key part of our strategy and our commitment to Formula One. We look forward to seeing how Will progresses with our support over the course of the next few years.”Commenting on today’s announcement, Will Stevens said, “I am extremely proud to be joining the Honda Racing F1 Team and this provides me with a great opportunity to progress my career towards my goal of reaching Formula One. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me so far in my career and especially Honda for their commitment and support of my future. I intend to do my very best to ensure that their belief in me is rewarded.”

Written by Honda Racing F1 Courtesy of www.F1SA.com

HONDA RACING F1 TEAM NEWSLETTER

07 MARCH 2008

'CAKE TIN' COMPETITION

With the first race of the 2008 season in Melbourne, Australia just one week away, the Honda Racing F1 Team is delighted to offer its fans an incredible prize in the first top competition of the year.

Enter via HondaRacingF1.com to win one of two RA107 'cake tin' front brake air intake units, signed by drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

For your chance to win, watch the feature on Honda Racing TV and click on the link or send your answers to competitions@hondaracingf1.com.

Good luck!


NEW TV FEATURES

The Honda Racing TV features continue in 2008. As well as the 'cake tin' competition above, the most recent uploads are:

Jenson's Nurburgring lap
Watch Jenson Button tackle for the first time ever the fearsome Nurburgring Nordschleife track in a Honda Civic Type-R.

Interviews with the Young Drivers and Alex Wurz
In two special interviews from the RA108 launch meet Young Drivers Mike Conway and Luca Filippi, and new third driver Alex Wurz.

Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Learn about the huge processing power behind the Honda Racing F1 Team CFD simulations, and how it all helps to improve fluid and aerodynamic efficiency.