Top 5 Junior Formula Drivers Ever

Mackmot · 13 Jan 2002, 00:14 (Ref:197748)

Well I saw the thread on F1 forum for top 5 drivers so I thought Id do one for us, Top 5 drivers who have not reached F1 due to lack of money, political reasons ....whatever.

Mine wont go too far into the past as I dont go too far into the past myself, but these are from my era.

1:Tomas Scheckter (could reach F1 but looking less likely after his visit to a red light district)
2:Kelvin Burt (could have made it if he didnt drive a touring car)
3:Gonzalo Rodriguez (great guy great driver a bit like Montoya, Never reached F1 cos of a tragic accident in CART years ago)
4

ario Franchitti (could be a great F1 driver but I dont think they want him. I dont know why)
5:Justin Wilson (I dont know if he'll reach F1 could be just like he said, they think hes too tall)

My dad mentions Niko Palhares and Dave Coyne as well I dont know much about them only that Niko was quite a cool guy when I was 6 cos he could sing all the word to La Bamba

hysen · 13 Jan 2002, 07:52 (Ref:197844)

1. Kelvin Burt (was only £250,000 away from getting the Jordan drive in

hysen · 13 Jan 2002, 07:59 (Ref:197845)

1. Kelvin Burt (was only £250,000 away from getting the Jordan drive in about '93)
2. Daniel Wheldon (if he does, it will be through the back door)
3. Gonzalo Rodriguez (shame as he was looking really good)
4. Greg Moore (was really good on all types of track and had it not been for the crash would be 2 time CART champ by now)
5. Helio-CastroNeves (looks unlikely he'll be given a chance what with the IRL not taking in any road courses)

NB. I let you into a little secret - Scheckter aint very good. Never won anything of note, never will. Just average, not great.

SILVERS95 · 13 Jan 2002, 09:30 (Ref:197865)

I would say

Martin O'connell...

he never had any money and was very quick....would have loved to have seen him go to F1

Raven · 13 Jan 2002, 14:55 (Ref:198019)

Jan Magnussen - another F1 teams should've picked him up after Stewart dumped him.
Marc Hynes - ???

Russfeld · 13 Jan 2002, 15:44 (Ref:198058)

If Schecker isnt good, neither is Sato, Pizzonia, and the rest of the 2000 Brit F3 season

paulzinho · 13 Jan 2002, 15:57 (Ref:198062)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mackmot

My dad mentions Niko Palhares and Dave Coyne as well ...

My Dad beat Coyne with an inferior car and was offered a works van Diemen drive....

Paul Rayner · 13 Jan 2002, 19:12 (Ref:198135)

Jamie Spence.
Won the Formula Ford title in 1992, with several rounds to go. Then went on to win the Formula 3 Class B championship in 1993. Had a Jenson Button like CV at this point, through karting and car racing. Was going to get a WSR drive the following year but hadn't got the money, career stalled. Put in some good drives last year in F3. Along with Taylor overtook more cars than anyone (that's not official, but I'm sure he must have).

SILVERS95 · 13 Jan 2002, 19:55 (Ref:198165)

Quote:

Originally posted by paulzinho

My Dad beat Coyne with an inferior car and was offered a works van Diemen drive....

Paul....who's ya dad , and who did he drive for ,did he do very well ??

hysen · 13 Jan 2002, 20:55 (Ref:198193)

No offence, but exactly what kart championships did Spence win. I know he was good but comparable to Button? I'd have said if anyone from that era had a cv comparable to Button it would be Guy Smith.

Sid The Manager · 14 Jan 2002, 09:22 (Ref:198419)

How about Topi Serjala?

beating Fisichella and Trulli in a private Kart with his dad as mechanic, followed by winning loads of stuff in ford 1600, again in a private car, championship leader in FPA 2000, with no money.

Possibly ending up this year in a GOOD prototype drive!

Rennen · 14 Jan 2002, 10:43 (Ref:198443)

Run that past us again Sid!...Topi... run by his dad!...private kart... beating Fisichella!!! When & Where? Certainly not in Formula SuperA (the manufacturers class) Fizi & Trulli in works karts were THE men in 1994.

Rennen · 14 Jan 2002, 10:59 (Ref:198449)

Quote:

Originally posted by hysen
No offence, but exactly what kart championships did Spence win. I know he was good but comparable to Button? I'd have said if anyone from that era had a cv comparable to Button it would be Guy Smith.

I remember Spence AND Smith both as Junior British Kart champions in 1987 (A and B class) Spence did do British and some International Formula A events but he wasn't as successful as Smiffy as I recall.

Button failed to win the 'top' junior titles BUT did win the European Super A title in 97 and was runner up world champ in the less important Formula A class in 95 (a title now dropped, I'm glad to say...bit like making F3 or F3000 title winner a 'world champ' daft! No disrespect to James Courtney, Jean C Ravier and Colin Brown)

Rennen · 14 Jan 2002, 11:04 (Ref:198453)

Quote:

Originally posted by hysen
No offence, but exactly what kart championships did Spence win. I know he was good but comparable to Button? I'd have said if anyone from that era had a cv comparable to Button it would be Guy Smith.

I remember Spence AND Smith both as Junior British Kart champions in 1987 (A and B class) Spence did do British and some International Formula A events but he wasn't as successful as Smiffy as I recall.

Button failed to win the 'top' junior titles BUT did win the European Super A title in 97 and was runner up world champ in the less important Formula A class in 95 (a title now dropped, I'm glad to say...bit like making F3 or F3000 title winner a 'world champ' daft! No disrespect to James Courtney, Jean C Ravier and Colin Brown)

I submit; TONY BRISE, Tom Price, Gerry Birrel, Stephen South, and Me what a loss!

Jonny Apex · 14 Jan 2002, 11:35 (Ref:198465)

Jonathan McGall, Michael Vergers, Bertrand Fabi and a chap called Jon English - used to do FFord 1600s in early 1980s. In a year old car which he used to run out of his mate's garage on a housing estate near Sheffield qualified a second ahead of a top field including Mauricio Gugelmin at Donington in 1982 and again in the damp came from 25th on the grid to 6th on the first lap in an Esso round on the original Silverstone club circuit. then he just vanished - no more money, you see. He now runs a company laying paving stones on seaside resort fronts in Spain!

paulzinho · 14 Jan 2002, 20:08 (Ref:198685)

Quote:

Originally posted by SILVERS95

Paul....who's ya dad , and who did he drive for ,did he do very well ??

Tim Lee Davey

Won the Formula Ford Star of Tomorrow championship with a Tiga.

Was offered a works van diemen drive for the following year but turned it down because he was expecting an F3 campaign with Shell works backing, it fell through, top drives gone. Carried on into F3 with a midfield team and got into Sportscars (Group C and Le Mans) before money ran out.

Interesting fact though was that in 1983 F3 he was racing in a year old chassis. In qualifying at one race his team owner told him that he would have got pole last year by some half a second, he said give me fresh tyres and I can go quicker, owner says got a thousand pounds?

They packed up and finished...

Cole Trickle · 14 Jan 2002, 21:20 (Ref:198748)

Topi Serjala was using a Birel chassis and Parrilla engines in 1992 and 93...as a semi-private. He was always in the top 5 in every International races (Margutti and Spring Race)fighting with the bests at the time. You are right Sid.
Guy Smith was really quick as well, he had a great style, best race: Le Mans world cup in 91 finishing second behind Manetti (tony kart) in Formula A. It was as well Trulli's first world champion title...anybody able to say with wich chassis and engine...I'm waiting...:-D

jiggly_puff · 14 Jan 2002, 23:30 (Ref:198811)

Quote:

Originally posted by Raven
Marc Hynes - ???

No marc hynes weren't all that he was just in the right car

Russfeld · 15 Jan 2002, 00:26 (Ref:198843)

In that case every Manor Formula Renault champion, and Pizzonia's F3 championship, are called into question. And people with a lot more experience and knowledge than us seem to think they're good drivers

av8rirl · 15 Jan 2002, 00:34 (Ref:198845)

The up-and-coming Scott Dixon. One to watch.

SILVERS95 · 15 Jan 2002, 15:44 (Ref:199002)

Quote:

Originally posted by paulzinho

Tim Lee Davey

Interesting fact though was that in 1983 F3 he was racing in a year old chassis. In qualifying at one race his team owner told him that he would have got pole last year by some half a second, he said give me fresh tyres and I can go quicker, owner says got a thousand pounds?

They packed up and finished...

so as usual , it dont matter how much talent youve got, it always comes back down to money...

paulzinho · 15 Jan 2002, 20:58 (Ref:199156)

Yeah shame really...

Paul Rayner · 16 Jan 2002, 16:06 (Ref:199558)

Quote:

Originally posted by hysen
No offence, but exactly what kart championships did Spence win. I know he was good but comparable to Button? I'd have said if anyone from that era had a cv comparable to Button it would be Guy Smith.

I have no idea how significant these titles are, but:
1985 Junior Booster British Karting Championship, 1st
1986 Junior Booster All-England Larting Championship, 2nd
1986 Federation Cup World Karting Championship, 2nd
1987 Junior British Karting Championship, 1st
1988 Steffan Belloff Cup, 1st
1989 Fullbeck Super-One Championships, 1st
1990 Hoddeson 100 Super-One Championships, 1st
1991 Formula Ford Festival, 4th, about 4 months after first stepping into a racing car
1992 Rapid Fit Open Formula Ford Championship, 1st
1993 British Formula 3 Class B Championship, 1st

Jamie Spence got those results. They sound pretty good to me.

hysen · 16 Jan 2002, 17:01 (Ref:199590)

Yeah not bad, but you said he had a cv comparable to Button and while he did okay he plainly didn't. Also there were other drivers at the time that overshadowed him.

Francesca · 16 Jan 2002, 17:44 (Ref:199624)

Quote:

Originally posted by hysen
Yeah not bad

...not bad???????? I'd say that was pretty impressive!

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