A GROUP of Jersey businessmen are putting their support behind James Walker, the 20-year-old ex-Victoria College student who is currently experiencing a meteoric rise in the motor racing world, and which could see him through to the dizzy heights of Formula 1.
As Walker’s debut in Formula 3 approaches following last season’s successes - he won the Formula Ford Scholarship class championship, the Rising Star award from the British Racing Drivers’ Club, and a nomination for the 2003 National Racing Driver of the Year title at the Autosport Awards - Jersey resident and ex-Formula 1 driver Derek Warwick has got together with Jordan F1 sponsor and ex-F3 driver Graham de Zille, who has business interests in the Island including Club Carrefour; and Martin Bralsford of CI Traders, to form a consortium to provide the young driver with additional backing.Warwick, who was at a race day at Brands Hatch this morning said: ‘I got to know of James and have been following his progress.
I was introduced to him last year, and I liked him, and I like the way he has approached things.’With his own experiences in motor racing, Warwick is well aware of the financial demands.’Graham and Martin and I have put together a three-year programme for James, although it’s still short on the budget, but so far it’s enough to cover three-quarters of this season.’Warwick added that he has had no involvement in motor sport since the death of his younger brother Paul, an aspiring racing driver killed while taking part in the sport.’I didn’t want to be involved, it’s a dangerous sport.
But I saw something different in James.
He is very, very good and, potentially, I think he is good enough for Formula 1.’He said that while motor-racing has bitter-sweet memories for him, it had been good to him, and supporting James is a way of putting something back into it.
‘We have absolute confidence that James can do something with his career.
Whether he can get to F1 remains to be seen but I know that by the middle-to-end of this season in F3, we’ll be seeing a very quick James Walker.’Walker himself said: ‘It’s good to see Derek here at Brands Hatch.
What he is setting up to help me is absolutely fantastic, and I’m more than grateful to them for getting involved.
I couldn’t race without them.’Walker has been testing his new car over the last few weeks, and said it has been going well so far.’I've had a lot of track time and haven’t made any stupid mistakes yet! The biggest difference in this year’s car compared to last season’s - and the one that has been causing the most trouble so far - is its speed through the corners, which is taking a bit of adjusting to.
But I’m happy with it and have more testing before the first race, and I’ll go into the first race in a positive mood.’
Article posted on 24th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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