Michelin Clio Cup Series racer Ollie Pidgley is eyeing a move into single-seater competition next season after making his open-wheel test debut last week at Silverstone
Pidgley, who is currently in his first season in car-racing in the Clio Series, got behind the wheel of one of Jamun Racing’s Formula Ford EcoBoost cars for the test. Despite it being his first time in slicks and wings machinery, the 16 year old enjoyed a trouble-free run and posted some positive lap times.
“The test was an awesome experience,” he said. “Jamun is a quality team and everything was absolutely fantastic – it was an amazing day. We ran on really old tyres, so the understeer was pretty major, but it was still fantastic and I learnt so much. The team was impressed with my pace, so I couldn’t ask for much more than that.
“You have to think a lot more in a single-seater, compared to the Clio I’m racing now you can hardly see a thing and everything comes at you so much faster too. I learnt so much at Silverstone, it was a great day and I really enjoyed working with everyone at Jamun for the first time.”
While remaining in Clio racing in either the Clio Series or Renault UK Clio Cup are options Pidgley is considering for 2015, the McLaren Young Driver Advancement Programme member admits a move into the UK single-seater scene may be on the cards.
“I want to race as much as possible to learn as much as I can, so something like FIA F4 would be ideal with a 30-race season,” he added. “You learn so much more in single-seaters and that can only benefit you as move up the ladder. We need to raise more sponsorship for next year, so a series with TV coverage is what we need to look at.
“We’re not ruling out staying in saloons, the Renault UK Clio Cup is obviously an option as that has TV as well, but we’re looking at a lot of options. The test with Jamun, though, has definitely made us think more seriously about single-seaters.”