F1 for everyone… never too late to be a future champion - News

As Lewis Hamilton takes the Formula One drivers' crown for the fifth time, we're gearing up for a surge in bookings for motorsport and track day experiences as fans of all ages race to emulate their hero.

Yet while Hamilton started his F1 career in his early 20s, we're reminding budding racers that it's never too late to put the pedal to the metal as some drivers, including former world champion Damon Hill didn't start their F1 careers until they were in their 30s.

Dan Jones, operations manager, said: "It's fantastic to see Lewis winning his fifth F1 title and waving the flag for home-grown talent.

"We'd also love to see more British drivers on the starting grid. It is never too late to start racing successfully in F1, as Damon Hill proved among others, so we'd encourage race fans of all ages to try a motorsport experience to see how they handle a single-seater race car. You never know, it could unearth a future star."

Other drivers who started their F1 career, later on, include Giovanni Lavaggi in 1995 and George Follmer, who was nearly 40, when he made his debut at the South Africa Grand Prix in 1973.

Motorsport experiences use single-seater race cars, such as the Formula F1000 and Formula Renault Sport 2000, around race tracks where such greats as Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have driven.

Dan added: "It's proven that age is no boundary to entering, and winning, in F1. It would be great if someone trying a motorsport experience discovered they also had a natural talent. However, it is not for the faint-hearted as the cars we use are among the fastest on a race track."