Darren Manning
Headed for the top
by Julie Gates
Darren Manning has been aspiring to driving in Formula One for the last decade. Now, courtesy of BAR, he has his foot in the illustrious door and is getting set to take the F1 world by storm.
The British star, born on April 20 1975 in North Yorkshire, began novice karting at the age of ten. Already he was showing promise and competed in British, European and World Karting Championships between 1986-1991. Set for a successful career, the only way was up and this led him to his first real motor racing experience in single seater racing.
In 1992 he raced in the Brands Hatch Formula First winter Series with SpeedSport and finished second overall, claiming two victories, three fastest laps and one pole position en-route. His impressive form saw SpeedSport retaining him and he participated in the Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship in 1993. Again, finishing second overall with three wins, he demonstrated the natural talent that eventually carried him into the world of Formula One.
That year also saw him compete in the Winter Series where he again claimed second. By now he was receiving the recognition he deserved, becoming a finalist in the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Awards.
He raced in Formula Vauxhall for the next two seasons, claiming fourteen podiums, three poles and a new lap record at Snetterton, which still stands today. At this point it became evident he was ready to move up the ranks and the fierce competition of the elite British Formula Three Championship beckoned.
In his first season, 1996, he impressively finished seventh overall, including a win at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix Support Race. Winning the Graham Hill trophy, he remained in Formula Three for 1997, but only managed a best result of fourth with no podium positions. However, he also contested in the Formula Renault Spider Championship for the three grand prix support rounds and this was when he really began to carve his name into the stone.
Racing in selected British F3 events in 1998, he won at Silverstone and Snetterton prior to his All-Japan Formula Three debut. Finishing third at Sendai Hiland he also competed in the European Formula Three Championship and the infamous Macau Grand Prix. Although he finished fifth at the Far Eastern event, he set a new lap record.
Darren has met every challenge he has been faced with in 1999. Winning the All-Japan F3 Championship with six consecutive victories, he dominated the Macau Grand Prix from pole position. Leading every lap and setting another lap record, he became the first man to achieve the 'perfect' win since Ayrton Senna sixteen years ago. Whether or not it is too early for comparison remains to be seen, but the young Manning went on to win the Korean Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap along the way, as well as attending a successful F1 test at Jerez.
In turn, he has been taken on by BAR for 2000. Most test drivers pay handsomely for the privilege, but with BAR taking a gamble on his long-term prospects, the inevitable goal for both team and driver is a ride in Formula One, and all are upbeat about their new relationship. Rick Gorne, the team's Race Operations Director, stated he has been watching Manning for four years now and that he has a special 'spark', which puts him head and shoulders above the rest…
Coinciding with Schumacher's recent comments that should a young charger threaten him, he would rethink his options and consider retirement, it seems plausible Darren is the young Englishman who could helps the Ferrari number one to collect his pension!
Article is written by and copyright © 1999-2001 Julie Gates and The F1 Rumors Site
Julie Gates is happiest watching F1 and writing. Also interested in singing, cars, cinema, reading and going to concerts, she has little spare time to relax, but this is the way she likes it - rather being busy than idle as she can't stand still for five minutes! Totally committed to her career as a Formula One journalist, she is determined to succeed.
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