Webb and Surtees join Carlin for Formula BMW UK
The pair was awarded the prize after a grueling selection day at the Formula BMW Racing Centre in Valencia, overseen by a panel of judges including 1992 Formula One World Champion, Nigel Mansell. 15 year-old Webb comes to FBMW having previously competed in T Cars, where he demonstrated a mature race craft and natural speed. He is managed and coached by Michael Bentwood, who also raced for Carlin in 1999, during the team’s first full season in F3. Lining up alongside Webb will be Henry Surtees, son of Formula One World Champion John Surtees. Henry has clearly inherited his father’s talent and also benefits from some race experience in the Ginetta Championship last year.
Both drivers are fiercely competitive and have traded fastest laps throughout their FBMW test program. Team Principal, Steve Hollman said, This is our fourth year of Formula BMW UK and the championship is now an important part of the Carlin team structure, taking young drivers into F3 and beyond. We have selected two FBMW Scholarship winning drivers, who both qualify for the Rookie Championship, but we will be pushing them to be podium finishers in the main race from the outset. “Oli and Henry have completed over 10,000 miles between them in testing, so they are well prepared for the start of the season.
They will also benefit from the coaching of our F3 driver and former FBMW driver, Sam Bird, who knows what it takes to win a championship – and perhaps more importantly, what it takes not to lose one. Although the championship has in the past favored second-year drivers, we hope to break this trend and challenge for race wins from the start of the season."