Well I was hoping that my first blog of 2012 would bring more positive news but unfortunately this is not the case. Things seemed to have turned full circle and I am now back to square one or virtually exactly the same position I was in this time last year. But I have to remain optimistic that something good will happen.
A year ago things looked pretty bleak. Funding was not forthcoming despite a very successful 2010 and it looked as though I may not be racing. But then I had the opportunity to return to British Formula Ford with the Jamun Racing Services Team and as you know we enjoyed unprecedented success together, breaking many records and culminating with me receiving a 2nd consecutive nomination for the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award. Things were looking pretty good just before Christmas. I performed well at the FIA Formula Two test at Barcelona and to be honest we looked set to secure a deal to run in that championship this year. But nothing is ever certain in motorsport and unfortunately we lost that deal through circumstances entirely beyond our control. We did everything in our power to save the deal but in the end we just weren’t able to.
So as you can imagine it is incredibly frustrating to find myself in this position once again after what I achieved last year and after all of the success I have had in my relatively short motor racing career. I suppose what makes it worse is when I see drivers that have achieved far less than me able to progress without having to put any effort in because they come from far more fortunate circumstances. Please don’t get me wrong, I really don’t begrudge anyone else their chance but surely it is wrong when proven talent (& I know I am sadly not the only one in this position) cannot progress and I plead with the motorsport governing bodies, manufacturers, teams and championship co-ordinators to do everything in their power to redress this situation.
Derek Warwick, the President of the BRDC, made the point on stage at the Autosport International show, when all six McLaren Autosport BRDC finalists were called up, that all six of us were winners and I applaud him very much for saying so. He rightly stated that being selected as a finalist for the award, in my case two years in a row, should be capitalised on when seeking partners and investors and believe you me I do but we are going through such austere times at the moment that even with this to back you up its very difficult to convert it into tangible help.
However difficult times or not I’m certainly not sitting around feeling sorry for myself. In fact since the turn of the year I’ve barely had a day off. There is lots to do with the kart team, as I’ve said before karting doesn’t really have an off season, and of course I had four very busy but enjoyable days at the Autosport Show in Birmingham where I was part of the show in the All Action Arena, appearing on the main stage with the other five McLaren AUTOPSORT BRDC Award finalists and took part in the charity kart race and of course did lots of networking.
I have some good friends and partners who are working hard on my behalf at the moment to try and create opportunities for me and I can’t thank them enough for their faith in me and their efforts. I sincerely hope I have some better news to report next time around.
All the best
Scott
Photo by Sarah Jane Berry. I'm 3rd from the left!
