ssc_marcomms posted on August 30, 2007 23:12
Photo: BMW Motorsport and Richard Bradley Media
Singapore-based ace karter Richard Bradley is making waves in the local and regional motorsport scene. Competing in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship this season, Richard is currently leading the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup.
Making the transition from racing karts to single-seaters when he moved to Singapore at the end of last year, Richard last raced in a kart last November. He made a return to kart racing in June this year at the opening round of the Asian Open Karting Championship (AKOC) where he clinched pole position before going on to win all three heats, the pre-final as well as the final at the Formula 125 Senior class of AKOC. Richard races proudly under the Singapore flag as his race license was issued by the Singapore Motor Sport Association.
We got the opportunity to speak to him about his career experiences and ambitions, as well as his participation in the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
1. Share with us some of the highlights of your journey so far.
This is my first year racing in Formula cars, having raced in karts since I was eight. The biggest highlight so far is winning my first two car races at the opening round of the (Formula BMW Pacific) season where I qualified on pole, led the race from start to finish, won both races and set the fastest lap time ever in a Formula BMW for the Sepang International Circuit. Also, the feeling of winning at an F1 race (Formula BMW was a support race to the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix) was incredulous!
As for my kart racing career, I’ve raced at KF1 (Karting Formula 1), the highest level of kart racing. Since I first karted at the age of eight, I’ve won numerous titles, including the 2008 British Open Championship. I became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, I was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.
2. What do you hope to achieve out of your motorsports career?
I am aiming to win the Formula BMW Pacific championship this year, before moving on to secure a seat in Formula 3 next year. As with all professional sports, sponsorship support is important as we go up the ladder. With the right level of technical and commercial support, I hope to get to the highest level of motor racing and be in Formula 1 within the next five years.
3. In September you will be driving right here on home ground at the Singapore Grand Prix. How do you feel about it?
I am really excited about getting to drive on home ground in front of the Singaporean crowd. The lights are already being set up now and I’m looking forward to the race. It will be my first time driving on a street circuit and I hope to fly the Singapore flag high at the top of the podium that weekend. I will do my best to achieve a good performance and do Singapore proud.