It is interesting that the top two in this fascinating series should be published on a day when one of Pauls top ten - Sebastian Buemi - is testing at Jerez for Red Bull.
Those expecting a proliferation of Brits in this list will have been disappointed, but rest assured as one appears in the runner up spot. I must be honest and say that I don't see this guy as a future star, but this isn't my list.
The number one spot goes to an Eric, sorry, a German who has set the standards in A1GP. However, that also gives me some reservations, as I view that category as a bit of a wasteland where true talent is concerned, but this bloke has great management credentials (assuming that his manager does not go to prison on fraud charges....) so he has a guaranteed route to those at the top.
So, here goes, the top two runners in Paul's list, which I hope you have enjoyed....
2. Oliver Jarvis
Where is he from?
Oliver Jarvis is a twenty-three year old from Great Britain. He was born on January 9 1984 is Cambridgeshire.
What Has He Done?
His car debut came in British Formula Ford in 2002. After eighteen races he was seventh in the championship. In 2003 he returned to the championship and finished eighth, and he was fourteenth in the British Formula Renault 2000 Winter Series.
He competed in a full season of British Formula Renault in 2004 finishing eighth and on his return to the Winter Series he won a race and finished third in the series. His first championship victory came in the 2005 British Formula Renault Championship after winning five of the twenty races in the season. He also took part in two races of the Dutch Formula Renault Championship.
2006 saw Oliver finish second in the British Formula Three Championship after he took two wins. He competed unsuccessfully in the Formula Three Macau Grand Prix where he had problems and could only finish fifteenth. He also took part in the Formula Three Masters finishing eighth and did two races in the World Series by Renault.
In the winter of 2005 and spring of 2006 he competed in A1GP sharing the Team Great Britain car with Robbie Kerr and Darren Manning. He helped them secure third place in the championship and won the first ever race for the team.
What is He Doing Now?
In 2007 Oliver is racing in the Japanese Formula Three Championship. After four of the nine round series he is situated in second place in the championship. He has 114 points and is only one behind his championship rival who has 115.
In his career so far has 124 race starts, and has 35 podiums with eleven races wins.
My Prediction for the Future
Oliver is going to be Britain’s next superstar after Hamilton-mania begins to fade. He proved in A1GP how good of a racer he is so his next stop will be challenging Mike Conway in GP2 for the right to be Britain’s next Formula One driver.
However I feel that if he doesn’t get into GP2 for 2008 another season in Japan will cause him to fall of the European radar.
1. Nico Hulkenberg
Where is he from?
Nicolas “Nico” Hulkenberg is a nineteen year old from Germany. He was born on August 19 1987 in Emmerich.
What Has He Done?
Nico was a late starter. He only made his car debut in 2005 but since then has quickly moved up the ladder. That debut came in Formula BMW ADAC where he became champion after winning eight of his twenty races. That championship win gave him a spot in the Formula BMW World Final where he finished third.
In 2006 he finished fifth in the German Formula Three Championship. He took one win from the eighteen races. In the winter of 2006 and spring of 2007 he competed in A1GP for Team Germany. He won the championship with ease setting many records in the process. He took eight wins, the most for any driver as well as taking the record for most wins in a row.
What is He Doing Now?
During 2007 Nico is competing in the European Formula Three Championship a series that was won by Lewis Hamilton just eighteen months ago. He is currently sixth in the standings with 20 points following a win.
His career stats include 69 race starts, 38 podium finishes and twenty of his podiums have been wins.
My Prediction for the Future
Nico is managed by the same guy who managed Michael Schumacher so obvious speculation has emerged about a future Ferrari test. If Ferrari isn’t going to give him a test then they need to reconsider and fast. After 2006 they lost the great German and now with Nico maturing it is time for them to hire the next.
Next year he will become GP2 champion for ART, the team that gave Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton their breaks. A team of course that is owned by Jean Todt’s son.
Written by Paul Crossling (Edited Steve Turnbull) on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:54:49
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