Hello folks, my name’s James Peace. I’m a 17-year-old racing driver and desperate for the new season to start. But that’s not until March, so how can I keep myself firing on all cylinders until then?!

Last year was my rookie ‘slicks and wings’ campaign, racing in the in the British Automobile Racing Club’s Dunlop 

InterSteps Championship, (previously known as Formula BMW) from March through September. Despite severely restricted testing (I’d been in the car just twice compared to rival drivers, who had 10+ days testing) I notched up two wins, 11 podiums, two poles, and three fastest laps. My mind is now set on doing what it takes to be InterSteps Champion 2012, and progressing to GP3 in 2013.

But with the new season still 10 weeks away I’ve been chomping at the bit to get back in the car. Being out-of-season is like being in limbo: we use the time to get ourselves as fit as we can mentally and physically, and in my case I’ve also been revising for and taking my AS levels and furthering my courses for A Level exams later in the year, but it is a real frustration when all you want is to be out there racing.

So it was a major boost for me in the new year to learn that I had been chosen – for the second year running – by the Motor Sports Association to join its select MSA Academy Squad.  This prestigious invite-only group sits within the MSA’s Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence programme (AASE), a government-funded, performance-enhancing course for 20 young drivers that aims to develop the most talented young competitors into elite athletes.

The benefits of this are immediate: this Saturday 21^st January, I will be training with F1 Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber at the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone. I’m thrilled to be meeting him and I’ll be asking him all sorts of things, from mental preparation to what he eats for breakfast!

Last weekend I was at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, and there was definitely a new season buzz about it.

I was a host at the MSA Academy stand, but I also got time to meet some great people, such as 1964 Formula One World Champion John Surtees, who is taking the plight of grassroots motorsport very seriously, and is lobbying the FIA for funding for young drivers. Getting funding and sponsorship is really difficult for most of us, and we more than welcome all the help we can get, morally as well as financially.

I also caught up with triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx. The Priaulx’s have a charity – Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, inspired by the fact that both of their children were born prematurely – as was I, five weeks before I was due, so it is a cause close to my heart.

So I’m keeping busy, but I can’t wait for March. And my exam results…

James

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