Laura Tillett will make the jump into cars for 2012 in Formula Renault BARC
Hi,
My name is Laura Tillett and I've been asked to write a monthly column for the Checkered Flag website which I'm really pleased about, especially as this is my first season in cars.
I've been kart racing for nine 9 years, since I was 11, and have raced all over the globe at World Championship level. My dad is Steve Tillett, of Tillett Racing Seats, and he's the one that got me started in this mad but exciting world of motorsport!
I was picked up by two main karting manufacturers, Tonykart Official Racing Team in 2010 and CRG Official Racing Team in 2011. Both were fantastic opportunities for me that not many people get, giving me the chance to learn new things and help me improve as a driver – bouncing knowledge off drivers such as World Champions Marco Ardigo and Davide Fore.
I'm also the first British lady to ever compete in the high level KF1 World Championship. Racing all over the world is an experience like no other so I am very proud to have achieved this. I really loved kart racing but this year I have decided to take another route, one to follow my dream to F1, this year I will be competing in the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship with top team Fortec.
Single-seater racing is something I have always wanted to do and when getting in the car for the first time only last month, I knew it was the thing for me to do this year.
I am also currently working for Caterham Motorsport (Caterham F1), helping them to start a one-make Caterham karting championship. It is really great to work close to something I have enjoyed so much for the past nine years and with this opportunity I hope to give many children all over the world the chance to race in motorsport.
Thanks for reading my first blog, I hope you will follow me this year and see what I get up to on and off track!
Laura
