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While the majority of the Formula
BMW Europe racers are enjoying a lengthy break between races, BMW Scholarship
winner and British MSA Elite Academy driver, Ollie Millroy is doing no such thing. Over the course of two weeks, the young
driver from Claygate would have been to no fewer than seven countries, including
racing alongside the Formula 1 stars in
Canada this weekend
The teenager went straight from competing in the
second round of the Formula BMW Europe series last weekend, at Zolder in
Belgium to Pembrey in
Wales, where he was a guest of the FBMW for the Europe
Licence/Scholarship day on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was joined by three-time
WTCC Champion Andy Priaulx, GP2 driver Bruno Senna and pro-golfer Oli
Fisher.
On Wednesday afternoon Ollie drove straight to
Heathrow and hot footed it across to Montreal where he competes this weekend in front of the
Formula 1 teams at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite his hectic schedule and the fact that he has never been to the
track before, Ollie and his team, Atlantic Racing, were ninth quickest and start
both races on the fifth row of the grid.
When he gets home on Monday he then has to fly to
Switzerland for a meeting with BMW at the F1 factory and then
on Tuesday he goes to Spain for the F1 test at
Barcelona on Wednesday.
“It’s been a pretty hectic time, but
I’ve adapted to it very well, even the time difference here hasn’t really
affected me and I’m hoping to come away with a good result. The last couple of
months have been an amazing experience though and I’m especially enjoying doing
all the corporate things for BMW”.
“What a lot of people don’t realise is
the importance of this part of the job when you are a racing driver, especially
when you are representing someone like BMW. Results are very important and so is
performance but it’s not just what you do on the track, it’s how you handle
yourself off it. I’m not only being coached as a driver I am being taught how to
handle the media, corporate guests and to represent sponsors. All of this is a
very important part of my job and I enjoy every minute of
it.
“There are thousands of people here this weekend and
there’s an amazing atmosphere. I have been invited over to the F1 paddock on
Sunday by my manager Enrico Zanarini and the Principle of my team in
Europe, Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella to watch the Grand
Prix; hopefully I will be taking a trophy with me”.
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