Advertising enquiries: 0208 267 5865 motorsport-news.co.uk FEBRUARY 8 2017 25 Photos: Jakob Ebrey, Chris Walker/Kartpix.net Why rising star Callum Ilott could be Britain’s best-kept secret. ByRob Ladbrook Ilott has moved to Prema this season Ilott led the line for Van Amersfoort team TIME TO MAKE MY MARK hile Lando shining chance to win this year’s Euro F3 Formula 3, but I was quick straight away “I was happy with my performance last CV ILOTTNorris has crown and make himself a household: so the deal was done and Red Bull year, but I had two engine failures at key followed the name. This year he will race for series supported me. rounds and the team had as many Callum Ilott FIA’s single- dominator Prema Powerteam, and will “I had no idea what I was stepping in to problems with my car alone as any other Age: 18 From: Cambridge seater ladder be a favourite for the championship. at the time. I just thought ‘a car’s a car, team would have across four!” adds Ilott. 2017: FIA F3 European in his career “I have to win it this year, if not it’s a let’s get on with it’. Whether it’s F3, F4 or “Over the first half of the year I had Championship with Prema progression, massive opportunity missed,” says Ilott. Formula Renault, the gaps between them more points than all of my team-mates Powerteam Callum Ilott has truly trodden his “You always have to go into each year aren’t that big. It’s about getting the combined, so I was setting the 2016: FIA F3 European Wown path. thinking things will be bigger and better, miles in and learning how to get the best benchmark a lot of the time. Without the Championship with Van One of the headline facts of Ilott’s that’s got to be the aim. Last year I had the from each one. problems I could have finished third in Amersfoort Racing – sixth, racing career so far is that he’s only ever speed to win races regularly, but the car “People say I’ve missed out by not doing the championship quite easily, and I have two wins done one car racing event on British soil let me down a few times and the luck things like F4 and FRenault, but I don’t to build on that this year.” 2015: FIA F3 European – hence why he’s probably the best wasn’t there. This year really is a huge agree. This year will be interesting as I’m The next step is winning European F3, Championship with Carlin, home-grown hope in F3 that most know opportunity for me.” racing against people like Lando and even with a raft of talented newcomers 12th, one podium almost nothing about. Ilott properly began to establish Mick Schumacher [German F4 graduate coming in. But where then? 2014: CIK-FIA European KF Almost all of Ilott’s racing career has himself in world motorsport last and son of F1 legend Michael] who have Ilott’s fracture from Red Bull’s Junior Championship, champion; been played out in Europe, with year when, in his second season of F3, followed the FIA ladder, so we can see Team programme at the end of 2015 WSK Super Masters Series campaigns in German and world-level he finished sixth in the European first-hand which route works best. raised eyebrows, but he never KF, champion; WSK karting paying dividends before a move Championship, winning two races with “Obviously I’ve had two years in F3, so I questioned his own ability. Champions Cup, third directly to Formula 3. That’s not the the Van Amersfoort team. He also took a feel I have the edge. F3 teaches you so “The Red Bull deal made me put 2013: WSK Final Cup, FIA’s chosen career step, but it’s also podium in the qualifying race for the much, and it’s a form of racing where it’s pressure on myself,” he adds. “I was champion not a unique one. Macau GP. also a lot about the car and you learn how always thinking ‘am I doing well 2012: CIK-FIA KF3 World Max Verstappen made a similar career Considering his lack of car racing much tiny changes can affect the entire enough?’ at every event and not knowing Cup, second; WSK Euro vault, and was even one of Ilott’s karting experience prior, that was a huge performance. I’ve also been up against exactly where I stood with things. You Series KF3, second; WSK rivals at world level. And there are more achievement. Ilott only set foot into a the best drivers for the last two years, and really think about it a lot when you have a Masters Series KF3, similarities between Ilott and the rapid, car for the first time in late 2014, with a I’ve learned from them. I was constantly brand like that behind you. In a way it’s champion; WSK Final Cup headline-making Dutchman too, such as Formula Renault test, before he signed being pushed as I was chasing times and clever as it pushes you on, but I relaxed a KF3, champion a Red Bull link. to do Euro F3 in 2015 with Carlin. A building up my experience. lot more last year with Van Amersfoort 2011: German Junior Kart Ilott made the move to European F3 on warm-up in the Toyota Racing Series “In F3 experience is huge. It’s relatively [without Red Bull backing] and that Championship, third; the advice of Dr Helmut Marko, and helped, but he still went into a hugely easy to be within a second of someone, made a difference. Formula Kart Stars KF3, gained backing from its Junior Team competitive series as a total rookie. but finding those last few tenths is so “Realistically, I’m not funded for F1. champion programme to do so for 2015. However, Ilott acknowledges his career path tough. You have to learn when to trust the With Red Bull behind me I might have 2010: Copa Campeones unlike Verstappen, it didn’t quite work hasn’t been conventional, but argues car, when it’s going to step out and when been, but I know my chances of making it Trophy Cadet, third; Super out for Ilott. he wouldn’t have it any other way. it’s actually sliding or when it’s just the there are incredibly slim, so I have to look One Cadets There’s been no rapid rise to Formula 1 “I didn’t do a lot of karting in the UK feeling of suspension movement. If I at other options. Winning F3 would for the 18-year-old from Cambridge, but because we always saw Europe as a could do it all again I’d still choose that over hopefully open a lot of doors in that respect. what there is on the table for Ilott is a better option,” he explains. “At the time winning F4 titles, the only thing I’ve missed “It’s funny when you see drivers like UK grids in KF3 weren’t great, but the out on are the FIA’s Superlicence points.” Max [Verstappen] move up like he has. formula was huge around Europe, so we Ilott feels ready for this year, and to When I raced against him in karting he did the German championship and then put the lessons he’s learnt into good was that bit older and more experienced, moved into WSK [World Series Karting]. use. During his first year at Carlin he but even then everybody knew he was “The plan changed when I had a took tips from drivers like Antonio going to make it. He’s won in pretty much meeting with Dr Marko at the 2014 Giovinazzi and Jake Dennis. Last year every championship he’s done, so it’s not British Grand Prix, and he wanted me to he led the line for Van Amersfoort, like he doesn’t deserve it. It’s just up to go for a test with Carlin. It was only my finishing over 60 points clear of the me to make my own way and see what second-ever go in a car, and it was in a team’s next-best driver. opportunities I can make for myself.” ■ Macau podium (left) was a highlight Ilott cleaned up in KF3.