Lewis Williamson

Last updated

Lewis Williamson
Lewis Williamson Clay Hill (3581704010).jpg
Lewis Williamson (2009)
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1989-11-11) 11 November 1989 (age 35)
Dundee, Scotland
GP3 Series career
Debut season 2011
Current team Bamboo Engineering
Racing licence FIA Gold Driver.png FIA Gold
Car number17
Former teams Status Grand Prix
MW Arden
Starts23
Wins1
Poles1
Fastest laps1
Best finish8th in 2011
Previous series
201112
200910
2008
2008
2008
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Formula Renault UK
FR2.0 Portugal Winter Series
FR2.0 UK Winter Series
Formula Jedi
Championship titles
2018 Blancpain Endurance Pro-Am Cup
Awards
2010
2009
McLaren Autosport Award
BRDC Rising Star

Lewis Williamson (born 11 November 1989) is a British racing driver.

Contents

Career

Karting

Born in Dundee, Williamson began karting at the age of eight, and spent a successful decade racing in the various classes around the United Kingdom. By the time Williamson moved into the junior formulae in 2008, he had claimed three Scottish karting championship titles at Cadet and MiniMax levels, before taking a clean sweep in 2008. The first driver to record such a feat, Williamson won the British Open, British Grand Prix Super Kart, the Scottish Open, as well as the 125 ICC Championship. [1]

Formula Renault

After a guest drive in Formula Jedi at Brands Hatch in which he won one of the two races, [2] Williamson moved up into Formula Renault, contesting the 2008 Formula Renault UK Winter Series after Highland Arena Ltd, an organisation set up by three family friends [3] helping to promote sporting talent from the Scottish Highlands  – where Williamson resides – leased a car from CR Scuderia. [1] In his second race in the category at Croft, Williamson finished on the podium, taking a third-place finish behind James Calado and Henry Surtees. [4] He added another third place in the final race at Rockingham Motor Speedway, [5] finishing behind Surtees and Dean Stoneman, to end up in sixth place in the championship standings, a point behind fifth-placed William Buller. He also contested the Estoril round of the Portuguese Formula Renault 2.0 Winter Series, taking second and fifth-place finishes for CR Scuderia. [2]

CR Scuderia, under their new name of CRS Racing, signed Williamson for the 2009 season as part of a four-car team alongside Harry Tincknell, Matias Laine and Joshua Scott. [6] Williamson's Winter Series campaign ruled him ineligible for the Graduates Cup for drivers aged nineteen or under. During the season, Williamson finished 17 of the 20 races, taking a third place at Donington Park [7] and a second place at Brands Hatch [8] en route to a tenth place championship finish.

Williamson moved to defending champions Manor Competition for the 2010 season, again as part of a four-car team with Will Stevens, Thomas Hylkema and Josh Mulholland, with Ollie Millroy replacing Mulholland during the season. In the first round of the season at Thruxton, Williamson claimed the first pole position, and thus became the first driver to take pole in the Barazi-Epsilon-designed car introduced for the 2010 season. [9] Several races later at Brands Hatch, Williamson threw away a chance at his first victory, spinning out of the lead and eventually finishing seventh. The first victory came a month later at Oulton Park, overtaking Tom Blomqvist at the start of the first race and was never headed.

Williamson took further wins at Croft and Silverstone  – a rescheduled race from Brands Hatch which Williamson had qualified on pole for – as he and Blomqvist commenced their battle for the championship along with Tamás Pál Kiss and Will Stevens. Williamson trailed Pál Kiss by 27 points and Blomqvist by 15 before the World Series by Renault meeting at Silverstone. Williamson won both races from pole position, to trail Blomqvist by one point on dropped scores heading into the final round at Brands Hatch. [10] In the first race, Williamson finished second, ahead of Blomqvist in third, but Blomqvist claimed fastest lap to draw level with Williamson before the final race. In the final race, Blomqvist made a better start and with team-mate Alex Lynn acting as rear gunner, Blomqvist won the championship with his second place. [11] Despite this, Williamson was nominated for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award due to his performances in the series. [12] On 5 December 2010, after the evaluation tests held at Silverstone, Williamson was named as the winner of the award, taking the £100,000 cash prize and a Formula One test with McLaren. [13]

GP3 Series

After the end of his Formula Renault campaign, Williamson took part in the post-season GP3 Series test in Estoril, Portugal. Driving for Atech CRS GP, Williamson set the fastest time in the afternoon session on the second and third days, [14] [15] having arrived at the circuit the day before after a chance conversation with team boss David Hayle. [3] [16] Williamson was eventually signed by MW Arden to graduate into GP3 in February 2011. [17]

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

After testing for ISR Racing during the final test session of 2010, [18] Williamson took part in the opening round of the 2011 season for the team at Motorland Aragón, deputising for regular driver Daniel Ricciardo who was on third driver duties for Scuderia Toro Rosso at the Chinese Grand Prix. [19]

Personal life

Despite his recent success in Formula E cars, Williamson combines his racing with an apprenticeship at Ross-Shire Engineering, working as a fabrication engineer in Muir of Ord, a 100-mile round trip from his home in Golspie. [20]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2008 Formula Renault UK Winter Series Highland Arena Ltd.40002576th
Formula Renault 2.0 Portugal Winter Series CR Scuderia 20001184th
Formula JediTeam Jedi21201 ? ?
2009 Formula Renault UK CRS Racing 20000222910th
2010 Formula Renault UK Manor Competition 2055494592nd
2011 GP3 Series MW Arden 161012318th
Formula Renault 3.5 Series ISR Racing 40000033rd
2012 GP3 Series Status Grand Prix 800001117th
Formula Renault 3.5 Series Arden Caterham 50000032nd
2013 GP3 Series Bamboo Engineering 1400014412th
2016 Renault Sport Trophy - Pro Strakka Racing 31212436th
Renault Sport Endurance Trophy 201112115th
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 400003218th
2017 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Strakka Racing 1000000NC
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup - Silver Cup 1033381102nd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 50000437th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 400001229th
2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Strakka Racing 50000244th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Pro-Am 50122921st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Mercedes-AMG Team Strakka Racing 400013010th
2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Strakka Racing 400001023rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Mercedes-AMG Team Strakka Racing 40000224th
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Ema Group/Team 59Racing100000NC
2022 British GT Championship - GT3 2 Seas Motorsport901021144th
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - Pro-Am Oregon Team12540101421st
2023 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup GetSpeed100000NC
2024 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 2 Seas Motorsport

* Season still in progress.

Complete GP3 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant12345678910111213141516DCPoints
2011 MW Arden IST
FEA

Ret
IST
SPR

20
CAT
FEA

14
CAT
SPR

9
VAL
FEA

2
VAL
SPR

6
SIL
FEA

7
SIL
SPR

1
NÜR
FEA

2
NÜR
SPR

14
HUN
FEA

6
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

9
SPA
SPR

DNS
MNZ
FEA

18
MNZ
SPR

10
8th31
2012 Status Grand Prix CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA

13
HOC
SPR

Ret
HUN
FEA

10
HUN
SPR

5
SPA
FEA

8
SPA
SPR

7
MNZ
FEA

19
MNZ
SPR

Ret
17th11
2013 Bamboo Engineering CAT
FEA

11
CAT
SPR

7
VAL
FEA

19
VAL
SPR

17
SIL
FEA

25†
SIL
SPR

14
NÜR
FEA

4
NÜR
SPR

4
HUN
FEA

24
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

14
SPA
SPR

10
MNZ
FEA

4
MNZ
SPR

3
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
11th44

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617PosPoints
2011 ISR Racing ALC
1

15
ALC
2

20
SPA
1
SPA
2
MNZ
1
MNZ
2
MON
1
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
SIL
1
SIL
2
LEC
1
LEC
2
CAT
1

18
CAT
2

Ret
33rd0
2012 Arden Caterham ALC
1

14
ALC
2

Ret
MON
1

13
SPA
1

19
SPA
2

16
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
MSC
1
MSC
2
SIL
1
SIL
2
HUN
1
HUN
2
LEC
1
LEC
2
CAT
1
CAT
2
32nd0

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassCarEngine123456789RankPoints
2016 Strakka Racing LMP2 Gibson 015S Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL SPA LMS NÜR
4
MEX
4
COA
Ret
FUJ
6
SHA BHR 18th32

Complete Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup results

YearTeamCarClass12345678910Pos.Points
2017 Strakka Racing McLaren 650S GT3 Silver MIS
QR

19
MIS
CR

13
BRH
QR

14
BRH
CR

11
ZOL
QR

11
ZOL
CR

25
HUN
QR

25
HUN
CR

Ret
NÜR
QR

17
NÜR
CR

13
2nd110

Complete British GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPoints
2022 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo GT3 OUL
1

5
OUL
2

Ret
SIL
1

Ret
DON
1

2
SNE
1

4
SNE
2

7
SPA
1

2
BRH
1

4
DON
1

9
4th114

Related Research Articles

Andreas "Andi" Zuber (born 9 October 1983 in Judenburg, Austria, is a motor racing driver. An Austrian by birth, he is based in Dubai and once raced under a licence issued by the United Arab Emirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Turvey</span> British race driver

Oliver Jonathan Turvey is a British professional racing driver, who most recently competed in Formula E, and is currently signed to DS Penske as a reserve driver and a sporting advisor. He was a notable kart racer, with two national titles, and was the 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner. His career has been supported by the Racing Steps Foundation.

Jon Francis Lancaster is a British auto racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">António Félix da Costa</span> Portuguese racing driver

António Maria de Mello Breyner Félix da Costa is a Portuguese professional racing driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and the 2019–20 Formula E Drivers' Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefano Coletti</span> Monegasque professional racing driver

Stefano Coletti is a former Monégasque professional racing driver who raced for SMP Racing in the European Le Mans Series. His sister Alexandra Coletti is an alpine skier. He is the first Monégasque driver since Louis Chiron (1931) to have won a race in Monaco.

The 2010 GP3 Series season was the first season of the GP3 Series, a feeder series for the GP2 Series. The championship was contested over sixteen races held at eight rounds, beginning on 8 May at Circuit de Catalunya and ending on 12 September at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Ten teams were announced, running three cars each.

The 2010 GP2 Series season was the forty-fourth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also sixth season under the GP2 Series moniker. The season began on 8 May at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Spain and ended on 14 November at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates after 20 races held at ten meetings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Calado</span> British racing driver (born 1989)

James John Calado is a British professional racing driver from England who is competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Ferrari - AF Corse in the Hypercar class and other selected GT races for AF Corse. He won the LMGTE Pro class of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, and overall victory in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. He drove for Panasonic Jaguar Racing in Formula E. His career has been funded by the Racing Steps Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio Haryanto</span> Indonesian racing driver (born 1993)

Rio Haryanto is an Indonesian former racing driver and businessman, who competed in Formula One at 12 Grands Prix in 2016. Haryanto remains the only Indonesian driver to compete in Formula One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matias Laine</span> Finnish racing driver

Matias Laine is a Finnish racing driver.

The 2010 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship was the 22nd British Formula Renault Championship. The season began at Thruxton on 3 April and ended on 10 October at Brands Hatch, after twenty rounds held in England, and for the first time since 2006, Scotland. Making its debut in the series in 2010 was the new-specification car, designed by Barazi-Epsilon, replacing the Tatuus chassis that had been in the series since 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Melker</span> Dutch racing driver

Nigel Melker is a Dutch former racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 GP2 Series</span> Season of Formula One feeder championship

The 2011 GP2 Series season was the forty-fifth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also seventh season under the GP2 Series moniker, the pan-European motor racing series for single specification open wheel GP2 cars. Thirteen teams competed over a nine event series that run from 7 May at Istanbul Park in Turkey to 11 September at Monza in Italy. The series again performed the role of a series for developing emerging young drivers, acting as the principal supporting motor racing series that fills in time between sessions of the nine World Championship Formula One Grands Prix that are held in Europe. The championship was won by reigning GP2 Asia champion Romain Grosjean at the penultimate round of the series. Luca Filippi, Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic were all divided just by two points in their battle for the second, third and fourth places respectively. Christian Vietoris, Davide Valsecchi, Stefano Coletti, Esteban Gutiérrez and Fabio Leimer was the other race winners.

The 2011 GP3 Series season was the second season of the GP3 Series, a feeder series for the GP2 Series. The season began at Istanbul Park on 7 May and concluded at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 11 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of European Formula 1 Grands Prix. The 2010 champion Esteban Gutiérrez graduated to the GP2 Series so did not defend his title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoël Amberg</span> Swiss racing driver

Zoël Amberg is a former professional racing driver from Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 GP3 Series</span>

The 2012 GP3 Series season was the third season of the GP3 Series, a feeder series for the GP2 Series. The season began at Barcelona on 12 May and concluded at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 9 September after eight rounds made up of two races each and all in support of European Formula One Grands Prix.

The 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series was the eighth season of the Renault–supported single–seater category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 GP2 Series</span> Season of Formula One feeder championship

The 2012 GP2 Series season was the forty-sixth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also eighth season under the GP2 Series moniker and also the first season after merging with the GP2 Asia Series. The championship was expanded to include rounds in Malaysia, Bahrain and Singapore, in support of the 2012 Formula One season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Rowland</span> British racing driver (born 1992)

Oliver Eric Rowland is a British racing driver. He currently competes in Formula E driving for Nissan Formula E Team. He has previously competed for Manor Motorsport in the 2018 WEC season, and he was also previously the young driver of Williams F1 Team during the 2018 Formula 1 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MP Motorsport</span> Dutch auto racing team

MP Motorsport is a Dutch auto racing team currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, FIA Formula 3 Championship, Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, Eurocup-3, Spanish Formula 4 Championship and the newly established F1 Academy in 2023. The team has also participated in Auto GP, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup in conjunction with Manor Competition, using the name Manor MP Motorsport in the past.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lewis crowned 'King of Karting'". The Northern Times. Scottish Provincial Press Ltd. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 Bell, Steve. "Lewis Williamson". Karting Perfection. Racing Perfection Ltd. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  3. 1 2 Simmons, Marcus (7 April 2011). "Local Hero". Autosport . Vol. 204, no. 1. Haymarket Publications. pp. 42–43.
  4. "Calado opens up Winter Cup lead". racingsteps.co.uk. Racing Steps Foundation. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  5. "Winter Series – Rockingham". CR Scuderia. CRS Racing. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  6. "CRS reveals '09 line-up". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  7. "First Formula Renault Podium For Lewis Williamson". PaddockTalk.com. PaddockTalk. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  8. "Calado signs off with a win at Brands". racingsteps.co.uk. Racing Steps Foundation. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  9. "Stevens leads the way after thrilling Thruxton opener". Renault Sport UK. Renault Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  10. "World Series by Renault at Silverstone". europeanmotornews.com. European Motor News. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  11. "Blomqvist becomes youngest ever Formula Renault UK winner". Girlracer. Girlracer Group. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  12. Turner, Kevin (30 September 2010). "Autosport award finalists revealed". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  13. Turner, Kevin; O'Leary, Jamie (5 December 2010). "McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC: Williamson". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  14. "Rookie Lewis Williamson tops Day 2 in Estoril". GP3 Series . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  15. "Williamson tops final day of testing in Estoril". GP3 Series . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  16. "Lewis Williamson talks to GP3". GP3 Series . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 15 October 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. McGill, Jim (21 February 2011). "Williamson joins MW Arden". scotcars.co.uk. Scotcars. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  18. "Quaife–Hobbs quickest again on final day". gpupdate.net. GPUpdate. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  19. Mills, Peter (8 April 2011). "Williamson to sub for Ricciardo". Autosport . Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  20. McGill, Jim (4 September 2010). "Lewis Williamson relishing Knockhill challenge, as Gordon Shedden targets victory". The Scotsman . Johnston Press . Retrieved 6 December 2010.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
Pro-Am Champion

2018
With: Nick Leventis & Chris Buncombe
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
2010
Succeeded by