The Young Drivers: No.6 - Darren Turner

Where were they then?

Back in 1995, a 21-year-old Darren Turner finished fourth in Formula Renault after scraping together what he could of a budget to run with Redgrave Racing. Come 1996, Turner's funds had all but dried up, but the Redgrave family kept him in the car none the less. It proved to be a wise decision as Turner finished runner-up in the championship and was selected as an award finalist.

He entered the evaluation days not expecting to win, believing that the prize would go to a Formula Vauxhall driver, as it had in years gone by, so was stunned to hear his name read out on the night that kick started his career, 12 years ago.

This is what Turner told Autosport magazine at the time:

"When they announced my name it didn't sink in at all. I was going to jump up whoever had won, because the tension that had built up inside me over the last few hours of waiting was just unreal. It was only when I saw everyone else at my table leaping up and hugging each other that I began to believe it, and made what seemed like a very long walk to the stage.

"The eight weeks since the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year finals at Silverstone passed by very slowly. At first, I was terribly excited and kept asking people 'have you heard anything, have you heard anything?' but when they all said they hadn't, and I knew they meant it, I realised it was the best-kept secret. Then it was easier to put it to the back of my mind.

"But then this evening prolonged the agony. Having the award right at the end of the ceremony was a killer. I was really nervous. Just being surrounded by most of the biggest names in world motorsport was awe-inspiring. Only then, as a finalist, do you realise what you are getting into, how well you will have to perform to become a worthy member of this exclusive club.

Darren Turner testing for McLaren at Barcelona in 2004 © XPB

"I've had complete belief in myself from day one, when I started karting, but I feel now that other people recognise that I can drive. That means a lot to me. I'm not frightened of anyone on the track, but now I know that I'm being taken seriously. I'm not banging my head against a brick wall any more.

"Winning the award has to be the strongest platform on which to build my career. The prestige alone will be a big help in cementing my move to Formula 3 next year. It was looking quite good anyway, but I think this evening will have secured a few more things. I'm very optimistic about the future.

"Redgrave Racing have been fantastic to me over the past two seasons in Formula Renault. Without Richard and the entire family's support, I could not have reached this point. Last year we finished fourth in the championship on two-thirds of a budget, but this year, when I had nothing, they stood by me and put their own money in to keep me racing. I owe them an enormous amount.

"To finish second this time, on about a third of what rivals spent, showed what can be done. We had enough money to have a decent engine from Solus and new tyres for each race, and that was it. There wasn't a great deal of testing. Whatever happened, I knew if I qualified in the top ten I had a chance of scoring well. I was totally focused and always knew I would go forward in the races.

"David Cook, who won the championship, did so much testing before the season that he had a big advantage. He did a professional job, but had he not won the first two races, I feel that it might have been a different story. The prize money for winning would have come in handy, but I was really gutted not to get the Formula One test drive. Now I have the chance to drive a McLaren-Mercedes, which will be brilliant.

"Up on stage, the seven previous winners, from David Coulthard to Jonny Kane, welcomed me to the club. Oliver Gavin, Gareth Rees and Dario Franchitti were very enthusiastic. You see these guys up in the higher echelons of racing and think 'wow, that's where I want to be'. Now I know I can get there too.

"Most of the other finalists went in with reputations. Instead of thinking it was the only area in which I couldn't match them, it strengthened my resolve to do my best over the two days. All of them came up to greet me afterwards, in fact Peter Dumbreck's father was the first to the table to shake my hand. It was that sort of competition, run with good sportsmanship throughout.

"I'd never been to an event of this size before and the experience was incredible. But to leave it as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, with £50,000 in my pocket, BRDC membership and an F1 test, was the greatest moment of my life. This is undoubtedly the turning point in my career, proof that influential people in the sport believe in me.

"Racing has always been my dream, but my parents are not wealthy people and I have had to fight - with their support and the unstinting faith of the Redgraves - to get this far. The award is my only opportunity to make it to the top and so much rests on it. I promise I won't let anybody down."

Where are they now?

Turner did what most award winners do and put the prize money towards a Formula 3 budget for the following season. But even with the help it wasn't enough to have a full crack at it and, racing wise, he had to scrabble around for the next few years.

But another vital part of the award gave him his big break. He only had to wait a few months for his McLaren F1 test and, unlike the winners today who sample the car on Silverstone's National circuit, Turner was let loose on the GP track.

"That test was fantastic and I did enough to warrant McLaren ringing me for a few more shakedown tests during 1997," recalls Turner. "The defining moment in my career was building that relationship with McLaren and Mercedes."

Darren Turner leads the BTCC field in the 2008 race at Silverstone © LAT

He was called upon for testing more and more during 1998 and 1999 and through that came an opportunity to test a Mercedes DTM car in 2000. That led to a factory drive with Team Rosberg in the series for the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

"It all stemmed from the award," he added. "These doors wouldn't have opened for me without it."

More testing for McLaren followed in 2001 and 2002, with Turner now working on the development of the MP4/15, 16 and 17.

He then had his first taste of sportscar racing in 2003, which led to a drive with Aston Martin in the Le Mans 24 Hours, LMS and ALMS in 2005. He has returned to Le Mans with the manufacturer every year since and made regular LMS and ALMS outings.

But he also made a return to tin-tops in 2006 as a works SEAT driver in the British Touring Car Championship. It took time to adjust in the first year, but he has won five times in the last two BTCC seasons as he dovetailed touring car and sportscar duties.

SEAT's decision to withdraw from the BTCC has left Turner without a regular drive for next season and, with Aston Martin yet to decide their plans for 2009, he is back to job hunting again.

"It's only since I've been in touring cars that I've ever known in October what I'll be doing the next year," says Turner. "It's usually been January or February before plans are laid down. It's not nice going back to that, but that's the way it is, you've just got to work hard at it.

"I'm chasing leads I get to secure a seat for next season, but there are a very small number of paid drives out there. There are ways to make money and keep racing where you won't be able to win. It's important to get into a good drive, but there are a lot of drivers that are in the hunt for the seats.

"There are things that affect those decisions as well - where the finances are coming from, your nationality, what the sponsors are looking for. It's never as simple as the best drivers get the best seats. You could get bitter about it, but that's just the way racing is, it's a competitive environment."

"It's a waiting game and like starting from scratch again. I'd like to continue with Aston Martin but until we know their plans, we don't know what will happen there. And I want to be in a championship again, Le Mans is only one race."

Turner has also returned to his roots to become involved with the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award again in recent years, as a member of the judging panel. He remembers well from his year as a finalist what the hopeful six go through every year and is well placed to decide on their credentials.

"I know how valuable the award is and what it can give you," says Turner. "But you've got to work really hard to use it to make something for yourself. You can't just expect that when you win it you can sit back and wait for Formula One to come along, it doesn't work like that.

"I'm very proud to have won it and it's good to be involved again. Of course all these guys aspire to Formula One, but you have to be realistic, it's an achievement just to make it as a professional driver and I'm honoured to be part of the process of finding the Autosport award winners of the future."