Surtees on Surtees and the young driver cash crisis
 Henry Surtees, the 16 years-old son of multiple World Champion John Surtees, makes his debut in 'wings and slicks' single-seater racing at Brands Hatch on 31 March 2007.
The Formula BMW Scholarship winner - one of only six young drivers to be granted the prestigious award - will compete in the 18-race 2007 UK FBMW Championship with the highly successful Carlin Motorsport team.
Surtees Jnr has already completed over 10,000 miles in a gruelling testing programme in which he has demonstrated maturity and pace. But what are his prospects in this highly competitive championship which in the past has favoured second year drivers. Who better to ask than Surtees Senior.
Did you encourage Henry to take up motorsport?
"Obviously motor racing has been a very big part of my life, so it seems quite normal that Henry has now gone into it. But I never introduced him to motor racing as such, he went karting one day and loved it and said: 'That's what I want to do'."
Why choose Formula BMW for Henry's first year in single-seater racing?
"Formula BMW is so good because it is specifically for this age group, for young drivers around the age of 16. We're not looking to develop someone who is completely and utterly dependent on motorsport. It is vital that Henry thinks about school and all the other factors that people his age should be concerned about. FBMW generally is part of a learning curve and will bring together what he has learnt in karting to the world of motorsport proper.
"The important thing at this stage is to focus on the motorsport programme and to try to succeed in that. But, as I've said before, it will be in parallel with his schooling. Coming up to the age of 16, he will be taking his GCSEs soon and both Henry and his school will have to put in that extra effort to make sure he makes up for any lost time. But you see from BMW, through the treatment of their own F1 team, that they understand the needs of young drivers. FBMW has been indispensable in the development of many young drivers such as Rosberg.
"As such, it is a major stepping stone for those wanting to make their way in the sport. But whatever happens, at this stage we must not let motor racing dominate his life."
Why choose to run with Carlin over other teams?
"There were a number of reasons. We ran in the junior Ginetta series ourselves and we could have done the same again in another championship. I could have put together a number of people in Team Surtees to race elsewhere. But I felt it was important for Henry not to race in a single car team. I thought he would benefit from working in a team environment, a team which was well established and had a history of steady development through a wide range of categories.
"Henry completed three tests with another F BMW team but, because of my dissatisfaction, I wanted him to complete a test with another team. He did one test with Carlin and he fitted into the team straight away and they fitted in with him. A relationship was formed from the very start. I think that's very important. Because of my background, and who I am, there is the danger that I could become the centre of attention. But I want Henry to have his own life, his own career and to be an individual. I will of course try and advise Henry and the team where I can, but I do not want to interfere. So far it has worked out very well. These lads are still youngsters and that must be appreciated. It is important to maintain a balance. We don't want tunnel vision youngsters who can't guess why the world goes round!"
Henry raced in Ginettas last season, do you think FBMW will be a difficult transition?
"The Ginetta car is a good car to start with after karting and teaches good car control. At the same time it is quite flexible and moves around on its standard road tyres. So it is quite different. The BMW is a lot more precise and, because of that, the limitations between grip and no grip are that much narrower. This year will be a learning curve but I think it will be good."
How have preparations and testing for FBMW gone so far?
"Testing has taken place in all types of weather conditions. We had one session in icy fog at Donington and we wondered when he first came round how he was managing to see - and how he was getting the ice off his visor! We had a one and half hour window when the weather came good and he got down to some good lap times.
"The testing has gone extremely well, we haven't had the kind of track temperatures that we will have during the season but it has been good ground work on which to build. I think the furthest we've been from lap records is three-tenths - but normally a tenth."
How difficult is it for young drivers to succeed and get funding in the UK?
 "I don't think the top of motorsport appreciates enough what happens at the junior level. It is a very difficult ladder to climb because the costs are so prohibitive. My involvement in the karting programme at Buckmore Park has centred on trying to ensure that we can give opportunities to youngsters to get involved in karting. We hope to create a learning centre that young drivers can be involved in. The experience we are going through with Henry is a blueprint of what we would like to do with and for others.
"But funding is a big problem which needs to be addressed. Because of our thriving motorsport industry, that period from karts to cars (when youngsters progress up the ladder) should receive more support or, I should say, some support from Government. It is at this level of the sport that drivers, and other support staff, all develop. So Formula One should take an interest as well."
A new generation of F1 drivers is emerging at the moment. Do you think these young men are under too much pressure and are being pushed into F1 at too young an age?
"I think the pressure comes most in karting. You see the parents standing round, watching everything and I sometimes wonder whether they are foolishly focused on trying to make their fortunes by pressuring their sons into becoming successful racing drivers.
"That's too much pressure too young. You hear all the talk about Lewis Hamilton, a young man with an enormous amount of expectation on his shoulders. In times gone by, what has been said about it being too early for him might have been true. But if you think of the number of racing miles Hamilton has done at his young age, he has an immense amount of experience. It's a changing world, we are not talking about 40 years ago, because it's not 40 years ago. Everyone is starting that much earlier. They're not like Fangio, starting in their late 30s. These youngsters are developing from a very early age, so it's obvious that they are going to move up the ladder quicker.
"Consequently, I think it's time for a change at the top level. We need more youngsters. What we need to do is give more youngsters an opportunity. It's where I think the structure of motorsport needs to be revised by the governing body and those at the top. We need to give assistance to allow talent to develop in the lesser formulas. Some nations are more supportive than others. One example is the French. They have been much more supportive of their young drivers than we have in Britain."
Do you think motorsport has a bright future in the UK?
"I think it's very important that motorsport has a strong future. We have such a strong motorsport heritage in this country and so much expertise that it is essential for the wellbeing and prosperity of GB Ltd. But also what is important is that we get one or two British names at the top. Motorsport, compared to other sports, does not get its fair share of media attention. Yet motorsport can offer more in terms of role models than the other sports activities which get all the publicity. In recent years we haven't really had someone right at the top. Maybe Button, Davidson or young Hamilton will get there. There are a number of good youngsters out there, all coming through who could potentially raise the profile of the sport.
"It's very difficult though. The British driver has the biggest problem, as there is so much competition for sponsorship and this in turn is not helped by the lack of media attention. The media don't really consider what motorsport means to the country. What we need to do is get behind it and find a youngster who could raise the profile. Lets face it, Zara Phillips went out and won a world championship on a horse, and she came back and won over public support to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. That is the kind of achievement and profile that motorsport needs at the moment."
© Carlin Motorsport 2007 / 19 March 2007
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