Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is pleased to announce that British teenager Tom Blomqvist, son of 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist, has joined the select group of young talent on its Driver Development Programme.
After gaining substantial karting experience in New Zealand the 18-year-old Blomqvist became the youngest driver ever to win
the Formula Renault UK Championship in 2010, a feat which earned him the British
Racing Drivers’ Club’s Henry Surtees Award for the most outstanding
performance by a young racer. Two recent Formula One World Champions,
including Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, also achieved early
success in Formula Renault.
Carrying that race-winning form to the Formula 3 Cup for 2011, Blomqvist
was shortlisted for the highly prized McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.
As part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, Blomqvist will
benefit from a wealth of personalised guidance in the off-track skills
demanded by his craft, as well as building on his racing performances as
he climbs the motorsport ladder.
Tom Blomqvist said:
“I’m thrilled to get this opportunity with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
The competition gets fiercer every time you step up a category, and
having this level of support will really improve my strength and
confidence.”
Martin Whitmarsh (Team Principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) said:
“Tom is rightly considered to be a very bright prospect in single-seater
racing, as demonstrated by his presence in the shortlist of finalists
for the 2011 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the ultimate accolade for
young drivers and a programme which McLaren has had the pleasure of
supporting for more than two decades. Tom is also now a member of the
McLaren Young Driver Programme.
“On-track results are the ultimate measurements of a driver's merit, and
in this regard Tom is already delivering on his potential. As a winner
of the Formula Renault Championship, he's following in the footsteps of
Lewis Hamilton, who passed this career milestone just three years before
graduating to Formula 1 with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
"We're therefore watching Tom’s progress with great interest.”
