Daniel Ricciardo

Name: Daniel Ricciardo
Date of birth: 1 July 1989 (Age 21)
Nationality: Australian
Currently: 5th in Formula Renault 3.5

Daniel began his car racing career in Formula Ford in his home country in 2005. For 2006 he won a scholarship into Formula BMW Asia, where he won twice on his way to third in the final standings. He also entered the World Final event at the end of the year, finishing fifth.

2007 saw Daniel switch to Europe and Formula Renault, finishing sixth in the Italian series. His performances attracted Red Bull, who signed him to their Junior Team programme. In 2008 Daniel remained in Formula Renault, winning the West European Cup and finishing second in the Eurocup.

Daniel made the step up to Formula Three for 2009, racing in the British championship with the all-conquering Carlin team. He dominated much of the season, taking seven wins on his way to the title. His Red Bull links saw him test a Formula 1 car for the first time at the end of the year at Jerez. For 2010 he would be the test and reserve driver for both the Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams.

Red Bull placed him in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series for 2010, with the Tech 1 Racing. Having taken four wins over the course of the season, he was set to take the title in his rookie season until he was passed by main rival Mikhail Aleshin with two laps to go in the final race of the season.

He once again tested for Red Bull at the end of the year, dominating the young driver test at Abu Dhabi. With no berth in either of the brand's F1 teams available just yet, it was announced that Daniel would run in the first free practice session at each Grand Prix for Toro Rosso.

Daniel has remained in FR3.5 for a second season in 2011, this time with the ISR squad. His F1 commitments kept him out of the opening round, while he struggled at the second round at Spa. His fortunes improved at Monza though, where he scored his first win of the season. At Monaco he repeated his victory from 2010.

Talent rating: Ricciardo's performances in Formula 3 and Formula Renault 3.5 clearly mark him out as one of the best in the junior formulae and perhaps the next world champion from the Red Bull stable. 9/10

Chances of getting to F1: Ricciardo seems ready for F1 already, it's just a matter of Red Bull finding a space in their lineup. If that chance doesn't come before the end of the season then it will in time for 2012. 10/10

 

Photo credit: World Series by Renault

Mitch Evans

Full name: Mitchell Evans
Date of birth: 24 June 1994 (Age 16)
Nationality: New Zealander
Currently: Third in GP3 standings

Evans began his car racing career in 2007 in Formula First in his home nation. This was followed by Formula Ford, finishing runner-up in the New Zealand championship in 2008-09 and runner-up in the Australian series in 2009. His performances caught the eye of Formula 1 driver Mark Webber.

At the beginning of 2010 Evans won the Toyota Racing Series, a series in New Zealand that runs from January to March and attracts international drivers. For the rest of the year he raced in the Australian Formula 3 Championship, finishing runner-up by just one point. He had missed the second round as he was testing Formula Abarth in Italy.

Evans retained his Toyota Racing Series title at the beginning of 2011, also becoming the youngest ever winner of a Grand Prix when he won the New Zealand Grand Prix in February. He signed for the MW Arden GP3 Series team for his move to Europe. He finished sixth and seventh in the first two races of the season at Istanbul. At Barcelona he took pole position and then converted this to a race win, finishing fifth in the second race. He lies third in the standings, five points off the leader.

Talent rating: Evans' acheivements in New Zealand and Australia marked him out as a prodigous talent, but his has only been strengthened with the way he has adapted to racing in Europe so quicky to emerge as a title favourite at just 16. 9/10

Chances of getting to Formula 1: Racing on the Formula 1 support bill in GP3 at such a young age will get him noticed, while being mentored and guided by Mark Webber will help him in the right direction. As always, money could be an issue. 9/10

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Photo credit: GP3 media service

Sam Bird

Full Name: Samuel Bird
Date of Birth: 9 January 1987 (Age 24)
Nationality: British
Currently: Joint leader in GP2 standings

Bird made his racing debut in Formula BMW UK in 2004 with the Carlin team, taking one win, finishing 14th overall and 2nd in the rookie classification. The following year he finished second overall, driving for Fortec Motorsport, winning six times. A year in Formula Renault UK with Fortec followed, where he finished 4th overall and top rookie.

Bird graduated to British Formula 3 for 2007, returing to Carlin. He scored two victories on his way to 4th overall. He was once again the top newcomer. That year he also conducted a four day aero test with the Williams F1 team. A made the move to mainland Europe and the F3 Euro Series for 2008, racing for another established British team in Manor Motorsport. He suffered a tough year, finishing down in 11th in the final standings. He switched to Mucke Motorsport for 2008, but he could only improve to 8th overall, still without a win in the Euro Series.

Despite his tough two year spell in the Euro Series, Bird still managed to impress the bosses at ART Grand Prix. The French team paired him with Euro Series champion Jules Bianchi in their GP2 lineup for 2010. Despite suffering some rotten luck during the course of the year he finished fifth in the final standings, taking his maiden win in the category in the final feature race of the season at Monza. At the end of the year he was given the chance to test for Mercedes GP at the Abu Dhabi Young Driver tests.

With Bianchi unable to move up to Formula 1 and inaugural GP3 champion Esteban Gutierrez deserving of a graduation within the ART ranks, Bird's year at ART was always destined to be his only. He was able to secure a spot at former champions iSport, and after almost matching title favourties Bianchi and Grosjean during the Asia Series, he took a double podium finish at the season opener at Istanbul with some brilliant overtaking moves. As a result, he leads the standings, level on points with Grosjean.

Talent rating: Bird showed good promise in his early years, but he struggled in Euro F3. He pulled off a bit of a coup by getting the ART GP2 drive for 2010, and has impressed with the way that he has immediately become a frontrunning contender. 8/10

Chances of getting to Formula 1: Despite taking his time to climb the ranks, Bird is one of the main contenders in GP2 and winning the title would make him a hot property. Promising British drivers often lack funding, but Bird has a large range of personal sponsors adorning his GP2 car. They could be collectively providing the full £2million required for a season of GP2 these days. If he can bring these sponsors onto the table when negotiating with F1 teams, he'll be very hot property indeed. A strong end result in GP2 is a must though. 8/10

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Photo credit: GP2 media service