MOTORSPORT: Max-imising his potential (From This Is Wiltshire)

MOTORSPORT: Max-imising his potential

12:00pm Friday 16th July 2010 in

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SOUTHWICK teenager Max Cornelius is preparing for his Castle Combe debut this weekend – but after a sensational start to his car racing career, the ambitious speedster is already casting his eyes further afield.

Cornelius will drive in three rounds of the Autosport Young Guns Championship as he aims to maintain the stunning momentum gained during the last triple-header at the Pembrey circuit in South Wales last month.

The 16-year-old clinched a hat-trick of wins, in only his second meeting since being granted a drive with the Motaworld team.

But the youngster, who has just completed his GCSE’s at Bradford on Avon’s St Laurence School, knows he must maintain his form to capture the eye of the sponsors needed to keep his motor racing ambitions on track.

“Obviously I’d love to make it to F1, but I’d love to have a career in motor racing,’’ said Cornelius.

“I’ve been karting since I was eight, but it will be nice racing at Castle Combe.’’ He added: “The aim (at Pembrey) was to try and get on the podium so to take three pole positions and win all three races was unbelievable “I qualified and was a bit nervous, but I knew I was one of the fastest out there.

“I got on to pole and in my first race I got my head down and just drove away.

“It was my second race, after my first time at Snetterton. There, I didn’t really know what the car was like.’’ Cornelius’s career is being overseen by his grandfather and uncle Gordon and Jonathan Davis, of classic car dealers and restorers Lesters, based at Dillybrook Business Park in Southwick The Kent-based Motaworld team offers a potential gateway to Formula BMW series in Europe, Malaysia and Formula Renault in Britain, all routes from which the likes of F1 racers Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen and Heikki Kovalainen have emerged.

Currently self-financed, the teenager needs backing to help fulfil his single-seater prospects.

Sponsors on board so far include Trowbridge firms Upsalls Property Lettings, Giantbox Self Storage, DAN Toilet Hire, T&A Motors and CPS Garage Services in Bradford on Avon, Frome firms Tipadel Builders Merchants, Coco’s Ladies Fashion, H&B Tyres, Innetar Bodyshop, Compugraphic Design and Frome Scaffolding Ltd as well as Piling Equipment Ltd, from Warminster.

Gordon said: “We are looking to generate around £80,000 to put Max through this season of Autosport Young Guns and the final three races of Formula BMW Pacific.

“The (Pacific) series features a line-up of drivers from Asia, Europe and Africa.

“The concept is for the most talented drivers, rather than the most financially healthy, to succeed and both the car and the training programme have been devised so that little, if any, advantage can be obtained by extra investment.

“It is also backed by a scholarship programme offering three drivers a scholarship of €50,000 to compete in Formula BMW Pacific and often supports Formula 1 and World Touring Car championship meetings.”

For information regarding the sponsorship and opportunities, contact Jonathan Davis on 07876 566182 or lesters2@btconnect.com