20/02/2007
NEWS STORY
On the day that it is announced that his son Henry will contest the 2007 Formula BMW UK series with Carlin Motorsport, John Surtees (right) has admitted that youngster face a difficult time getting on the racing ladder in the UK.
"There is an unfortunate situation in motorsport at the moment," said the Englishman. "I don't think the top of motorsport appreciates enough what happens at the junior level. It is a very difficult ladder to climb, because the cost is so prohibitive. My involvement in the karting programme at Buckmore has been to try and ensure that we can give opportunities to youngsters to come and be involved in karting. We hope to create a learning centre that young drivers can be involved in.
"The experience we are going through with Henry is a blueprint of what we would like to do with others," he continued. "Funding is a problem which needs to be addressed. Because of our thriving motorsport industry, that period from karts to cars, as youngsters progress up the ladder should receive more support, or I should say some support, from Government. It is at this level of the sport that drivers and other support staff all develop, so Formula One should take an interest as well."
Surtees also admits that now, probably more than ever before, there is tremendous pressure of drivers rising through the ranks.
"I think the pressure comes most in karting," he said. "You see the parents standing round, watching everything and I don't know whether they want to make their millions or something by making their son become a successful racing driver.
"There is at times too much pressure. You hear all the talk about Hamilton; he has a lot of expectation on his shoulders. In times gone by, what has been said about it being too early for him might have been true. But if you think of the number of racing miles Hamilton has done at his young age, he has an immense amount of experience.
"It's a changing world," he continued, "we are not talking about forty years ago, because it's not forty years ago. Everyone is starting that much earlier. They're not like Fangio, starting in their late 30s; these youngsters are developing from a very early age, so it's obvious that they are going to move up the ladder quicker.
"I think it's time for a change at the top level. We need more youngsters. What we need to do is give more youngsters an opportunity. It's where I think the structure of motorsport needs to be revised by the governing body and those at the top of motorsport. We need to give assistance to allow talent to develop in the lesser formulas. Some nations are more supportive than others, for example I think the French have been much more supportive of their young drivers than for instance the British."
Asked if he think motorsport has a bright future in the UK, the Englishman responds: "I think it's very important that motorsport has a strong future, because we have such a strong heritage of motorsport expertise that it is essential to GB Ltd. But also what is important is that we get one or two British names at the top. Motorsport, compared to other sports does not get its fair share of media attention.
"Motorsport can offer more in terms of role models, than the other sports activities which get all the publicity. In recent years we haven't really had someone right at the top. Maybe Button, Davidson or young Hamilton will get there. There are a number of good youngsters out there, all coming through who could potentially raise the profile of the sport.
"It's difficult though. The British driver has the biggest problem, as there is so much competition for the sponsorship pound and this in turn is not helped by the lack of media attention. The media don't really consider what motorsport means to the country. What we need to do is get behind it and find a youngster who could raise the profile. Lets face it, Zara Phillips went out and won a world championship on a horse, and she came back and won over public support to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. And that is the kind of achievement and profile that motorsport needs at the moment."