March - 2009
Yorkshire Teenager Following in F1 Champ’s Footsteps
Karting star Adam Parsley has won another year’s sponsorship from Yorkshire engineering firm The Flow Group – as well as Lewis Hamilton’s blessing as he prepares to race in the series in which the McLaren ace made his name.
When he was still in karting as a teenager, the F1 world champion won his class in the British Racing Drivers Club Stars of Tomorrow championship.
From April this year, 15-year-old Adam Parsley will attempt to emulate Hamilton’s achievement in the Junior Rotax class in the televised six-race series, which will see drivers race at circuits all over the UK as well as on the continent.
And, with preparations already under way, the Rossett School pupil has already received a personal good luck message from the F1 champion.
“My mum met him at the launch of this year’s McLaren car and, of course, she told him about our plans for this year. He told her he’d be watching and then wished me the best of luck,” said Adam. “I first heard about him when he was racing Formula Renaults at Croft a few years ago – but it’s quite exciting to know he’s heard my name and it would be great to think that one day we could meet as racing drivers!”
Adam’s already had his first taste of life on the next rung of the ladder over the winter months, testing a Ginetta racing car at Elvington – the scene of Top Gear star Richard Hammond’s notorious dragster accident.
Afterwards his instructor, Harrogate-born Charlie Kemp, said: “Adam listens to instruction and then applies it, which is invaluable, and as a result, he learned quickly about how to place the car on the right lines and how to cope with the extra weight. There’s no doubt he has clear talent and, with the right amount of training, he would definitely be on the pace.”
But, in 2009, Adam will be focusing on another year of karting with Sheffield-based S8 Racing, taking on other big teams and some of the best young drivers in the UK.
“I can’t wait to get started,” said Adam, who last raced at national level when he finished 10th in the Minimax class in the Motors TV Karting Challenge in 2007. “We weren’t so sure about sponsorship this year because of the credit crunch so we were delighted and very grateful to the Flow Group for their offer of continued support and I hope to do well enough to make it worthwhile.
“I was 7th in the Yorkshire championship when they joined us last year but managed to finish 2008 in 2nd thanks to the company’s support. Racing at national level means we’ll need an even bigger budget but at least we have enough to make a start.
“There are a couple of circuits I’m going to have to learn before the championship starts gets underway will mean a few weekends away but we’ve had a pretty good start to the year in testing so I hope we can carry some of that into the new season.”