With his appointment as a reserve driver for Red Bull’s two Formula 1 teams, Australian Daniel Ricciardo has won the race to become the first Formula BMW Pacific graduate to make it to the pinnacle of motorsport competition. Just four years since he made his Formula BMW Pacific debut, Ricciardo has realised the dream of every young racing driver across Asia Pacific.

 

As a 2006 Formula BMW Pacific Junior, Ricciardo’s early career development was fast-tracked by his participation in the series’ comprehensive Education and Coaching Programme, which is an integral part of Asia Pacific’s premier single seater championship.

 

The then 16-year-old notched up two wins and ten podium finishes with Eurasia Motorsport that season, finishing runner-up in the Rookie Cup and third overall in the Driver classification. He went on to contest the 2006 Formula BMW World Final, where he beat a number of drivers from the European and American series to finish fifth, earning a special achievement award in the process.

 

After graduating from Formula BMW Pacific, he moved to Europe in 2007, competing in the Formula Renault 2.0 Italian Championship and Eurocup, and winning the 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 WEC Championship.

 

In 2009, Ricciardo dominated the British Formula 3 Championship, taking the title with six wins and 11 podium finishes with Carlin Motorsport. He contested the end-of-season FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup at the Macau Grand Prix in November, before shining during the Red Bull young driver Formula 1 test days in December.

 

 

Prepared by Formula BMW Pacific