Motorsport UK karters to join Formula 1® heroes at the British Grand Prix

Thursday 05 March 2020

Open to all karters aged between seven and ten years old – on Sunday 19 July, the date of the British Grand Prix – Motorsport UK competition winners will become FIA ‘F1 Future Stars’ for the day, with VIP access to the Formula 1® Paddock and grid at Silverstone.

‘F1 Future Stars’ was launched in 2018 by Formula 1® and The FIA, offering young motorsport enthusiasts the chance to accompany the F1 drivers on the start grid for the national anthem before each race. As a champion for grassroots motorsport, Motorsport UK is once again making the opportunity exclusively available to kart licence holders, many of whom aspire to one day make it to Formula 1® themselves.

Having first run the competition in 2018, Motorsport UK has so far given 20 lucky young karters a day they’ll never forget.

Laith Khan was a 2019 Future Star, his father Wasim, continues: “Being an F1 Future Star has been a valuable and unforgettable experience for Laith. The great day at Silverstone has shown Laith where his karting can lead to in the future, and he has taken things more seriously and professionally then ever before. He now sees the sport from a very different perspective. Being a minority British Asian driver and being picked by Motorsport UK has shown Laith anything is possible.”

Motorsport UK is pleased to announce that nine-year-old Harry Freeman and eight-year-old Jesse Phillips are the first two of its 2020 ‘FIA F1 Future Stars’, having secured their places after winning the 2019 Motorsport UK Bambino Kart Time Trial and Race Championships respectively.

Motorsport UK is now looking for eight more youngsters to become ‘FIA F1 Future Stars’ at this year’s British Grand Prix.

The governing body is inviting all its kart competition licence holders within the specified age range (and other criteria) to record a short video message (approximately 30 seconds), introducing themselves and stating: why they want to be an ‘FIA F1 Future Star’; what it would mean to them to represent karting at the British Grand Prix; and who their F1 hero (past or present) is and why? This should be accompanied by a supporting email from their headteacher.

The video messages will be reviewed by a panel of Formula 1® experts, after which the winners will be announced in June.

Dan Parker, Motorsport UK Karting Manager, said: “With four British drivers on the Formula 1® Grid, the strength of UK karting is clear for all to see. We’re delighted to be working with Formula 1® again on this exciting competition. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any young karter and I encourage them all to enter and see what they could one day achieve.”

Click here for further details, including how to enter Motorsport UK’s ‘FIA F1 Future Star’ competition.