Champions on the road to F1

Throughout 2013 AUTOSPORT's Marcus Simmons followed motorsport's junior racers to see who the Formula 1 stars of the future might be.

With the racing season now over, he takes a look back at those who took their various championship titles. And those who missed out but could still be drivers you'll be hearing more about very soon.

There's a lot of strong talent out there at the moment, but the list below is bound to include those who will be taking motorsport's biggest prizes in the years to come.

FORMULA RENAULT EUROCUP
Pierre Gasly
Age: 17

Strong, reliable campaign from the Frenchman in what is undoubtedly the world's toughest sub-F3 series. His reward is a scholarship for Formula Renault 3.5, and he's also been placed on the Red Bull junior programme. With a deal in place with Arden for 2014, he's stepping straight into Antonio Felix da Costa's shoes.

Average grid: 36
Most wins: Gasly/Oliver Rowland (3 each)
2nd in championship: Rowland; 3rd: Esteban Ocon

FORMULA RENAULT NEC
Matt Parry
Age: 19

The Welsh-born Caterham F1 protege quickly established himself as the class of the NEC regulars and was also a serious threat to the guesting Eurocup stars when they competed. He went on to lift the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award and will stay with Fortec Motorsport for his move into the Renault Eurocup.

Average grid: 31
Most wins: Parry (5)
2nd in championship: Jack Aitken; 3rd: Dennis Olsen

FORMULA RENAULT ALPS
Antonio Fuoco
Age: 17

With just a couple of car races in the States in Formula Abarth under his belt, Ferrari's latest Italian cadet did the business in his maiden season of car racing, and also took a shock pole at Spa on a Eurocup guest outing. As a result, he is skipping that level to move straight to European F3 with Prema Powerteam - in Raffaele Marciello's footsteps.

Average grid: 32
Most wins: Fuoco (6)
2nd in championship: Luca Ghiotto; 3rd: Bruno Bonifacio

TOYOTA RACING SERIES
Nick Cassidy
Age: 19

The local boy switched from Giles Motorsport to the less-fancied M2 Competition team and for the second year running stitched up New Zealand's 'baby Tasman' series, this time from M2 team-mate Alex Lynn. Lacks finances, hence only a couple of European F3 outings in 2013, but is trying to get a GP3 deal with Status, which rates him highly.

Average grid: 18
Most wins: Alex Lynn (3)
2nd in championship: Lynn; 3rd: Lucas Auer

JAPANESE FORMULA 3
Yuichi Nakayama
Age: 22

In his second year with TOM'S, Toyota protege Nakayama won all but four races to wrap up the title well in advance. He did OK in Macau, apart from a massive qualifying shunt, but his future is unclear. Normally you'd expect him to graduate with Toyota to Super Formula; at this point that's not a given, although he has tested with KCMG.

Average grid: 13
Most wins: Nakayama (11)
2nd in championship: Takamoto Katsuta; 3rd: Katsumasa Chiyo

GERMAN FORMULA 3
Marvin Kirchhofer
Age: 19

The Leipzig teenager has steamrollered the German junior ranks, winning the Formel Masters crown in 2012 and then beating more experienced team-mates to become F3 champ in '13 - both with the Motopark-run Lotus team. A move to GP3 looks most likely, perhaps with Motopark-affiliated Russian Time, while he has also tested with European F3 teams Prema and Fortec.

Average grid: 18
Most wins: Kirchhofer (13)
2nd in championship: Artem Markelov; 3rd: Emil Bernstorff

EUROPEAN FORMULA 3 OPEN
Ed Jones
Age: 18

Anglo-Emirati driver did a good job after missing the opening round - due to a clashing Formula Renault Eurocup event - to wrest the title from the consistent Sandy Stuvik at the final round with Corby-based Team West-Tec. Jones is set for a move to FIA European F3 in 2014; he has a long history with Fortec but has tested for Carlin. (Image: Fotospeedy)

Average grid: 30
Most wins: Jones (6)
2nd in championship: Sandy Stuvik; 3rd: Nelson Mason

PRO MAZDA
Matthew Brabham
Age: 19

The Florida-born son of Geoff and grandson of Sir Jack only just won the US F2000 title in 2012, but this term he smashed the Pro Mazda wins (with 13 out of 16) and podiums (15) records. He's staying within the Andretti Autosport set-up for what will no doubt be a fruitful step up to Indy Lights next season.

Average grid: 13
Most wins: Brabham (13)
2nd in championship: Diego Ferreira; 3rd: Shelby Blackstock

US F2000
Scott Hargrove
Age: 18

A strong early-season run in this well-subscribed series set the British Columbian up nicely, and he was able to hold on despite Cape Motorsports team-mate Neil Alberico winning more races. He also took a trip to Brands Hatch to finish fourth in the Formula Ford Festival. Aiming for a step to Star Mazda in 2014.

Average grid: 27
Most wins: Neil Alberico (6)
2nd in championship: Alberico; 3rd: Garett Grist

ADAC FORMEL MASTERS
Alessio Picariello
Age: 20

Belgian Picariello has been around for a while, racing in both Masters and Formula Renault, but this year had a proper attack on the German-based series with Mucke Motorsport and delivered a convincing title. He's had a German F3 prize test with Performance Racing and is searching for backing for this or European F3, where he is in contact with Mucke (naturally) and Van Amersfoort. (Image: ADAC Motorsport)

Average grid: 21
Most wins: Picariello (12)
2nd in championship: Maximilian Gunther; 3rd: Jason Kremer

BRDC FORMULA 4
Jake Hughes
Age: 19

It was a late move to car racing for the West Midlander, whose karting was at a lower level than most of his rivals. But he did a great job in an ultra-close series to win the championship, showing speed and consistency with Lanan Racing. A move to Formula Renault NEC is most likely, with Mark Burdett Motorsport or Fortec.

Average grid: 21
Most wins: Hughes (4)
2nd in championship: Seb Morris; 3rd: Charlie Robertson

FRENCH FORMULA 4
Anthoine Hubert
Age: 17

France's centrally-run entry-level series was dominated by this driver from Lyon, who was unbeaten in the first eight non-reversed-grid races. Things got a little spicy when his opposition stepped up the pace, but Hubert was comfortably clear in the points. Presently closing on a Formula Renault 2.0 deal with Manor MP Motorsport. (Image: DPPI)

Average grid: 21
Most wins: Hubert (11)
2nd in championship: Jules Gounon; 3rd: Tristan Viidas

FORMULA RENAULT 1.6 NEC JUNIOR
Roy Geerts
Age: 21

This Dutchman did the business with the Stuart Racing Team of former British FFord/FRenault NEC racer Liroy Stuart. That was despite Geerts trashing his car in the penultimate round at Zandvoort. With a new chassis, he charged from seventh on the grid to a race win - and the title by one point! - the following weekend at Assen. Has tested with the Manor MP FRenault 2.0 team.

Average grid: 12
Most wins: Martin Rump (5)
2nd in championship: Rump; 3rd: Janneau Esmeijer

SWEDISH FORMULA RENAULT 1.6
Erik Johansson
Age: 17

After winning the little-known Formula Monza title in Italy, Johansson went home to claim the inaugural FR1.6 crown with Team Tido, narrowly defeating Martin Rump (as Geerts did in the NEC equivalent). He has tested FR2.0 cars and will also run with German/prospective British F3 team Performance Racing as he weighs up 2014. Has also earned a place on FIA Institute Academy.

Average grid: 13
Most wins: Martin Rump (5)
2nd in championship: Rump; 3rd: Lukas Sundahl

FORMULA CHALLENGE JAPAN
Kenta Yamashita
Age: 18

Another driver off the production line from Toyota's FTRS school, Yamashita did a good job in his rookie season in what is effectively Japan's Formula Renault category. Emerging from Motegi's Super FJ mini-series, he snatched the title with a run of end-of-year wins. Don't be surprised to see him graduate to Japanese F3 with Toyota's top team, TOM'S.

Average grid: 14
Most wins: Yamashita (4)
2nd in championship: Tsubasa Takahashi; 3rd: Keishi Ishikawa

FORMULA RENAULT BARC
Chris Middlehurst
Age: 18

The son of experienced racer Andy Middlehurst put in a phenomenal early run of wins with the team of experienced FRenault engineer Mark Godwin. Try as they might, the opposition couldn't catch him, and he won a place in the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finals. Looks likely to compete in MSV F3 Cup next year.

Average grid: 19
Most wins: Middlehurst (6)
2nd in championship: Weiron Tan; 3rd: Jorge Cevallos

SOUTH AMERICAN FORMULA 3
Felipe Guimaraes
Age: 22

The ex-A1GP, GP3 and Indy Lights driver dominated a pretty uninspiring field at home, while keeping his name in the European frame by taking a couple of race wins in British F3. It's unclear what the next step is for a driver backed by ex-F1 racer Alex Ribeiro's Jesus Saves scheme.

Average grid: 9
Most wins: Guimaraes (13)
2nd in championship: Raphael Raucci; 3rd: Gustavo Myasava

BRITISH FORMULA FORD
Dan Cammish
Age: 24

It's only lack of budget that meant Cammish was still racing at this level. In the first season of winged EcoBoost cars, he proved the class of what was otherwise a closely-matched field, winning all 24 races he started in his JTR Mygale. The Yorkshireman has his hopes pinned on a BTCC drive next year.

Average grid: 11
Most wins: Cammish (24)
2nd in championship: Harrison Scott; 3rd: Juan Rosso

FORMULA MASTERS CHINA
Aidan Wright
Age: 19

The Australian comes from Cairns, within spitting distance of the Queensland tropical rainforest, so a programme in Asia makes just as much sense as one at home! Won the title after a dramatic battle with Meritus team-mate Afiq Yazid. Wants to go the distance in single-seaters, but is eyeing Asian Carrera Cup for next year.

Average grid: 16
Most wins: Wright/Afiq Yazid (6 each)
2nd in championship: Yazid; 3rd: Akash Nandy

ITALIAN FORMULA ABARTH
Alessio Rovera
Age: 18

Driving for the CRAM team that launched the careers of Massa, Maldonado, Kanaan and Farfus, this karting graduate from Varese won the Abarth series, downscaled from European status. Grids were small, but he has done a decent job in post-season prize tests in Auto GP and Formula 3. Plans uncertain for next season.

Average grid: 12
Most wins: Rovera (6)
2nd in championship: Michele Beretta; 3rd: Simone Iaquinta

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD
Anton de Pasquale
Age: 18

It was a close season among the Duratec-engined cars in the final year of Ford patronage at a national level, with a strong late run from this Victorian teenager and his Shamick Racing Mygale edging it. He's looking towards Europe or the States to go further in single-seaters, or could stay at home and try the V8 Supercar route.

Average grid: 15
Most wins: de Pasquale (7)
2nd in championship: Liam Sager; 3rd: Sam Power

OTHERS TO IMPRESS

There's no argument that the Formula Renault Eurocup was crammed with talent, and most of the leading runners will be moving up in 2014.

Oliver Rowland, who narrowly lost out in the title race to Gasly, returns to his former team Fortec Motorsport to step up to Formula Renault 3.5 with Racing Steps Foundation support. His RSF stablemate, Jake Dennis, is expected to go European Formula 3.

Already on board for Euro F3 at Prema is Lotus F1 junior Esteban Ocon, third in the FR Eurocup points, and who has already made a highly impressive F3 debut in the Macau Grand Prix.

McLaren junior Nyck de Vries could also go to F3 and has been linked in some circles to the Signature/Renault project, as has Oscar Tunjo who, like Ocon, is a Lotus protege.

From Formula Renault NEC, Jack Aitken and Dennis Olsen should both join champion Parry in the Eurocup, with Aitken set to line up alongside his fellow Brit at Fortec.

Among the second-tier F3 series, Sandy Stuvik, Nelson Mason and Santiago Urrutia were all up against Jones for the European F3 Open crown and will look to move up. Meanwhile, German F3 runner-up Artem Markelov has strong links with Russian Time, which is moving into GP3.

One level down, those who ran Hughes closest for the BRDC Formula 4 crown - Seb Morris and Charlie Robertson - are eyeing moves to Formula Renault NEC.