Age: 18
Lives Odiham, Hampshire
Nationality: British
Website: www.olliehancock.com
Occupation: Racing Driver

Despite competing in no more than a handful of local karting events, Hampshire-based Ollie Hancock has already made a big impression in his first year of BARC Formula Renault competition, with a win and two pole positions to date.

Rather than karting, Hancock grew up riding motorbikes around the fields near his home in Hampshire, before finally beginning his driving career in 2003 competing in the Classic FF2000 championship. At just 16 years of age, driving a Van Diemen RF82, he enjoyed almost instant success, qualifying sixth on his debut and finishing on the podium in only his second race before going on to win the championship’s winter series at Brands Hatch.

A full season in the same championship followed in 2004, with Hancock securing four pole positions, one win and ten podiums on his way to second overall, missing out on the title by a single point.

Budget limitations meant the youngster didn’t race at all in 2005, instead taking a position as a mechanic with Formula Renault UK team Welch Motorsport where he broadened his knowledge of the industry before a return to racing in 2006.

Again competing in the Classic FF2000 championship, and preparing his own car, Ollie finished on the podium in every race, taking three wins and three pole positions, again missing out on the title by one point. Stand-out performances included qualifying fastest by over 2 seconds at Castle Combe and by over a second at the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy, mechanical problems robbing him of victory.

In 2007 Hancock made the progression into modern racing, signing with Mark Burdett Motorsport to contest a full season in the Formula Renault BARC championship. Having shown consistent pace and performance throughout the year, qualifying on the front row at Croft and OultonPark and having secured numerous top five finishes, Ollie’s talent shone through in the double-header meeting at Silverstone where he qualified on pole for both races before driving to his maiden victory. Ollie finished the season 3rd overall in the BARC championship and as best-placed rookie.

Despite his transition into ‘modern’ racing, Ollie has still impressed at the wheel of several historic cars and races regularly in the World Sportscar Masters series. At the Silverstone classic in July, he stepped into a Lola T212 for the first time and led the rain-affected race by over a minute, despite being on slick tyres!