Oliver Rowland – Britain, 23
Although Oliver Rowland won the 2011 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award, the Briton is a pure product of Renault’s open-wheel championships. After a successful career in karting, Rowland was picked up by the Racing Steps Foundations and made his single seaters debut in the 2010 Formula Renault UK winter series.
He then returned for a full campaign one year later, and while Rowland finished runner-up to Alex Lynn in the main series, he won the UK Finals cup with four wins out of six events.
The Sheffield racer then moved to Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 for 2012. In a field that included the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne, Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, and Esteban Ocon, Rowland wound up his rookie year in third position overall with one win. Coming back for a title charge in 2013, Rowland took three more victories but narrowly missed out to Gasly after the pair clashed during the season finale.
The Briton then stepped up to Formula Renault 3.5 Series, where he immediately established himself amongst the frontrunners and ended the season with a pair of wins and an additional five podiums.
Often described as a raw, swashbuckling talent, Rowland came back a much polished racer in 2015, leaving just a few crumbs to his rivals. The 23-year-old beat Carlos Sainz’ previous record for most victories in a season with eight, while also scoring over 300 points out of only 17 races.
In 2016, Rowland will dovetail his Renault commitment with a first full campaign in the GP2 Series with Dutch outfit Manor MP Motorsport.
How did you join the Renault Sport Academy?
“Ever since I won Formula Renault 3.5, I was talking to them. Even before I won the championship we had a meeting. And the plan was to do GP2 and be affiliated with a Formula One team. It’s key to be part of it. I’ll do some work at the factory, and hopefully they can help me grow and I’ll end up in Formula One in the long term.”
Is it frustrating to do another year in a junior category after winning FR 3.5 so dominantly last year?
“It is a little bit, but there are still things for me to improve. So I need to make sure that, if and when I get my chance, I’m best prepared and ready for the opportunity.
“There’s still a lot for me to learn: new tyres, new tracks, the GP2 car as well. If I learn that properly, there is no reason I can’t be totally ready in the end.”
Where you in the frame for a drive at Manor? Derek Warwick said you were talking to two F1 teams at the end of last year?
“We were talking – don’t get me wrong but I think I’m probably ready [for F1]. But I did not get a chance. I don’t have some of the money that was required to be at Manor.”
“But these guys [at Renault] are good. They have a good project with the Academy and the whole F1 team. It’s pretty positive all in all to be part of it and at the top of that ladder.”
