LIVING LIFE IN THE FAST LANE FAST TRACK TO THE TOP Racing driver Ross is now weighing up his options as he considers a switch to GT
I think my pace in the dry was pretty deadly Ross Martin
Racing star Ross Martin is targeting a step up after finishing his fourth campaign in Formula Ford by missing out on a podium in the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy meeting at Silverstone by less than a tenth of a second.
The former Balfron High pupil was on the pace all weekend in cold, damp conditions in Northamptonshire, lining up seventh for the grand final – before charging through the grid in the five-lap sprint to fourth – missing out on the final step of the podium by just 0.076 seconds..
The Walter Hayes Trophy brings the curtain down on another positive season for the 20-year-old after finishing second in the shortened National Formula Ford Championship and impressing at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch last weekend before a mistake on the penultimate lap saw him again miss out on a podium place.
Reflecting on the previous weekend Martin said: “I think my head was a bit gone after the safety car and I was just pushing a bit too hard. I do feel like you need to go into these one-off races with a bit of a win it or bin it attitude though.
“In hindsight third place probably would’ve been alright but I was a bit frustrated because all weekend I had mega pace.
“It just would’ve been nice to have been in the dry. I think my pace in the dry was pretty deadly so it was frustrating.
“Although it was still a good weekend in general.
“You obviously want to win the race though, and the more I think about it I probably wouldn’t have been happy with third.
“I know that’s maybe not the right attitude to have but for these one-off races you have to go for it.”
And despite being unable to retain his BRSCC Formula
Ford crown, Martin was pleased with his showings during the season.
He continued: “The national championship was three race weekends this year.
“I went into Silverstone fifth and managed to finish second in the standings so it was a good old year when you think about it.
“This is my fourth season in Formula Ford and next year I’d like to move up, but as always it all comes back to budget. I’m very fortunate that, in the last couple of years, quite a few small businesses in the local area have helped me – but I’m really keen to do a bigger series next year. It’s just going to take a whack of money to do that.
“I’m trying to be optimistic about it.
“My record has improved over the years which I’m happy about but I’m at that sort of age now where I feel like another season in Formula Ford would be just a bit too much.”
And Martin is now setting his sights on a possible move to GT racing, despite admitting that his dream remains a step into the British F3 championship that was the breeding ground for future F1 stars George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo.
“I’m 21 this month, and I’m starting to look at GTS,” he explained.
“I’m maybe still a bit young for that but I’m not far away. Moving to GTS would be nice, but I’ve been speaking to a lot more guys in that paddock and trying to work out what sort of budget is needed.
“The budget obviously varies per car and per team, but to realistically go racing at that level you’re needing about £100,000 to get a drive in a Mustang or a Mclaren GT car.
“To try and find that sort of money you need to rob a bank though!
“I would love to do more single seaters. I’d love to do British F3 over anything else. I’ve driven the car and it’s mega so if I was to choose between the two it would be F3.”
And if he was to step into GT racing, Martin would love it to be alongside the man who pipped him to this year’s National Formula Ford title – fellow Scot Neil Maclennan.
He added: “I’ve been speaking to Neil a wee bit,. The two of us get on well and sharing a car is definitely something we’d look at.
“We’ve been racing each other for 10 years right from karts, but me and him know that we’d need a big chunk of money to do it.
“It would be a bit of a dream team but I don’t really know if it’s something that would be possible.”