motor racing By Amanda Little

Last updated 10:43, Friday, 10 October 2008

Cumbrian Oliver Turvey got a special good luck message on the eve of his bid to be crowned British Formula Three champion – from motor racing legend Damon Hill.

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Oliver Turvey: British title bid

Hill, the 1996 F1 champion who is now president of British Racing Drivers' Club, passed on some words of encouragement to the 21-year-old who heads into his favourite Donington Park circuit confident that he can clinch the country's premier single seater racing car crown on Sunday.

He will join the start grid 12 points clear of his nearest rival, Carlin Motorsport team-mate Jaime Alguersuari, after taking his 12th podium finish of the season in the penultimate round in Romania.

But with 42 points at stake the pressure is still on for the Cambridge University graduate, from Langwathby, near Penrith, who has his sights set on a career in F1.

He said: “I’m in the strongest position and I’m feeling pretty confident.

“There are no team orders – I've been racing against Jamie and my other team-mate Brendon Hartley all season and it has been tough.

“It’s between myself and Jamie and it should be a good battle. I hope we can be strong as a team, but obviously with myself at the front.

“However coming into Donington with the lead is great as I have good memories of previous races there, including winning there in the Formula BMW Championship. Having a lead is good but it could still all be there to play for.”

Turvey hopes winning the British F3 title will land him a drive in next year’s GP2 Championship – one rung below F1 which also produced British F1 golden boy Lewis Hamilton.

He shares the same manager as former McLaren two-times champion Mika Häkkinen in Monaco-based Didier Coton, who is currently trying to secure a budget of 1.5million Euros to enable Turvey to compete in GP2.

Turvey said: “If I win the F3 championship that would be great but it won’t determine if I get a drive in GP2. I want to race in GP2 and throughout the season I have shown the speed and ability to be able to do that.

“It would help my future career though if I am champion this season. I really want to win as it would be the biggest championship I’ve won.

“Damon Hill has been very supportive all year and it’s great to have that. I have spoken to him and I think he might be there.”