Teenage dreams (part 2)
Pirelli continues its journey among the young talents of Motorsport.
After Lando Norris, Colton Herta and Kalle Rovanpera, whom we talked about in the previous episode, it is time now to introduce three other young drivers to keep an eye on this season.
Oliver Solberg
Like Herta and Rovanpera, Solberg is following in the footsteps of a famous father. In his case, a world champion: the 2003 WRC title-winner Petter Solberg. And as with Rovanpera, Solberg headed to Latvia to get early practice in rallies. After two seasons in two-wheel drive machinery, the 17-year-old recently claimed his first outright victories using a Pirelli-equipped Volkswagen Polo R5.
The Norwegian, who cut his teeth racing cross karts and has also been successful in rallycross, has now started competing in rallies in America with Subaru, the brand with which his father won his WRC title.
Sam Mayer
Like many young American drivers, Mayer is looking towards a career in NASCAR. He's certainly got time on his side. He's only 15 years old but is already winning races in stock car racing's development ranks and part of a Chevrolet-backed junior program.
With a background in karting, he's also trying his hand at other forms of racing, and recently took part in a round of the Trans Am Series, which is supplied by Pirelli, at the Road Atlanta circuit in a Chevrolet Camaro.
Tom Gamble
Gamble followed in the footsteps of Norris and many others by winning the prestigious McLaren Autosport Award last year, impressing in a test at Silverstone across single-seater, prototype and GT machinery. His prize includes a test in a McLaren F1 car – not a bad 17th birthday present!
Although he won races in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship in 2018, Gamble is now heading into GT racing, taking on the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe in a Pirelli-equipped Audi R8.