11 replies to this topic

[WGD706]

In looking at a listing of the drivers selected for this honor (since 1976) there are,of course, familiar names that have risen to various peaks of motor sport. But there are also names of people who seem to have vanished from the pages of any and all racing publications. I was wondering what became of the careers of some of these 'Stars of Tomorrow'?
1976-Sean Walker
1977-Willy T. Ribbs*
1978-Rob Zurrer
1979-Guy Dormehl
1980-Tim Lee-Davey
1981-Phil Kempe (This was the year Senna won the RACBritish and the Townsend Thoresen FF1600 titles)
1982-John Penfold
1983-Perry McCarthy*
1984-Jonathan Bancroft
1985-Jason Elliott
1986-Paul Warwick*
1987-Derek Higgins
1988-Kurt Luby
1989-David Coulthard*
1990-Warren Hughes
1991-Dino Morelli
The list in my source book, 'Anatomy & Development of the Formula Ford Race Car' by Steve Nickless only goes up to 1991 as it was published in 1993.
The drivers marked with an * have gone on to higher classes of racing with some success, but I'm curious about the others. Was this selection as a 'Star of Tomorrow' based on serious evaluation or just a publicity stunt?
Warren

[Vitesse2]

Warren Hughes - one of the great what-ifs:

http://www.autoracin...arrenHughes.htm

Tim Lee-Davey did some sports car racing - try a BB search for clues!

[Darren Galpin]

Derek Higgins - racing in the US a couple of years ago in Indy lights.
Dino Morelli - did F3000 a couple of years ago.
Kurt Luby - Raced GT cars this year, I think.
Warren Hughes - Raced a MG in this years BTCC

[Vitesse2]

Dino Morelli:

http://www.formula30...o.uk/index.html

Click on the Drivers link.

[Criceto]

Sean Walker raced a Toj SC205 in Thundersports in 1986-1988. He then raced a few seasons in the BTCC. Last heard of in 1992, racing a privateer BMW M3 E30.

[ensign14]

Bancroft and Elliott both made it as far as Formula 3; they may both have had some races in the British F2/3000 series as well (certainly Bancroft did).

I remember Bancroft winning a FFord title after he was pushed into the barriers by someone who was consequently DQ'd. His name? Eddie Irvine...

I think I read somewhere that Bancroft worked fo McLaren from about 1993, bu cannot remember as what.

Luby raced in Vauxhall Lotus before retiring, his comeback is fairly recent.

Lee-Davey - was he not one of those who was promoted by an Esther Rantzen programme? (The one that pushed an unknown Sheena Easton?) He got to F3 in the early 80s before campaigning Tigas and Porsches in sportscar racing. Last I heard of him was in about 1992.

And Penfold was Dangermouse's assistant. (Sorry...)

[LittleChris]

Originally posted by ensign14



I think I read somewhere that Bancroft worked fo McLaren from about 1993, bu cannot remember as what.

(Sorry...)

I believe it was to do with marketing. He had taken a college course in order to make himself more promotable and when he ran put of funds eventually, he was offered a job by McLaren and took it.

I think Phil Kemp eventually made it to F3 in the late 80's but then disappeared.

[mikedeering]

Derek Higgins ran British F3 in 1989 for the Uniden/Junior Benetton team. He faired OK against that years pace setters - a certain Allan McNish & David Brabham. IIRC, he won the British GP supporting race on the Saturday.

[Pete Stowe]

Originally posted by WGD706
In looking at a listing of the drivers selected for this honor (since 1976) there are,of course, familiar names that have risen to various peaks of motor sport.


Was this selection as a 'Star of Tomorrow' based on serious evaluation or just a publicity stunt?
Warren

Certainly, for many years at least, this was a championship, not a selection. Mike Kettlewells Motor Racing Directory (1979) lists the 1976-78 winners as above, & identifies rounds being held at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park, Castle Combe, Croft, Oulton Park, Donington Park and Snetterton, with the best 8 scores from 10 rounds counting. Also there have been rounds at Castle Combe until1989, when Coulthard won.

[WGD706]

Thanks, all.
Pete...I wasn't sure if the nomination came from a serious evaluation of a driver's accomplishments or was just a popularity contest. Thanks for clearing that up.
Warren

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by LittleChris


I believe it was to do with marketing. He had taken a college course in order to make himself more promotable and when he ran put of funds eventually, he was offered a job by McLaren and took it.

I think Phil Kemp eventually made it to F3 in the late 80's but then disappeared.

Bancroft was featured in Autosport's "Where are they now?" column a while back - he did end up in the McLaren marketing dep't after studying business, IIRC.

pete

[kabouter]

Originally posted by LittleChris
I think Phil Kemp eventually made it to F3 in the late 80's but then disappeared.

Phil Kempe finished 11th in the 1985 British F3 Championship, with three 5th positions as best results.