This weekend young British racing talent Sam Hancock makes his F3000 race debut for the Super Nova squad, for those who ask Sam who? here's a brief history...
So who is Sam Hancock? A look at his racing CV makes for impressive reading. Like so many drivers Sam started his career in karts. From the age of nine Sam was a regular competitor, scoring multiple victories in numerous championships. Having graduated from karts the next step was Formula Vauxhall Junior - first the winter series in 1996 before tackling the full series in 1997 where his best result in his first full season of motor racing was a podium place, coming third at the twisty and technical
Oulton Park circuit.
From Formula Vauxhall Junior Hancock headed to Formula Palmer Audi for 1998. Despite only completing a half season, as at the time he was also completing his education, Sam showed that his speed was certainly there as he qualified twice on the front row, but finishing-wise he was just shy of a podium that year with a best place of fourth.
The following year brought a full season in the category. Unhindered by lectures and homework, Sam notched up impressive results. Palmer Audi was originated by former
Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer as a showcase for young driver talent, with all cars in the category being run by Palmer's Palmersport company, rather than different teams such as happens in other series. In this competitive environment Sam was developing well and in the course of 1999 he went on to win at
Brands Hatch, set the lap record at
Donington Park and he came home seventh in the category.
So far so good, but nothing had yet marked Sam out as something special. In search of a new tack Sam headed Stateside and took part in five races of the Barber Dodge series, a highly respected US feeder series for US open wheel racers. Unfortunately the dollars ran out leaving Sam to compete in the final six races of the Palmer Audi European series, setting fastest lap at Oulton Park circuit in the process.
