The 2018 Formula One season begins this weekend and, although Oliver Rowland is at home in Barnsley rather than in Melbourne for the opening Grand Prix, he is hopeful that this year will bring him closer to the ultimate goal of competing at that level.
The 25-year-old from Penistone, who lives in Dodworth, has moved from Renault where he was development driver last season to their F1 rivals Williams in the role of 'official young driver'. Rowland told the Chronicle: "I am doing all the simulator work and a lot of the preparation for the team at the factory. I will test the car out on the track as well. I am a little bit more involved than I was at Renault and I get to have a direct input into the team and the direction it is going.
"The hope and the plan is that it will eventually lead to me having a racing seat in F1 with Williams. That was one of the reasons we didn't carry on with Renault. There is a clearer route to a race seat at Williams and I am just going to be patient and aim for that. I'll be watching how the team gets on in Australia and hopefully they can make a good start."
Rowland has spent much of the off-season in Barnsley but is going to be based more often at Williams' Oxfordshire factory as the season gets underway."I have spent quite a bit of time in Barnsley this time which has been good. But things are getting busy now so I will be all over the place."
Rowland – who finished third in Formula Two last season – will also compete this year in the FIA World Endurance Championship which will see him take on several long races around the world including the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"It's something different and I'm excited about it. The cars are actually a bit better in terms of performance than the F2 cars. Most of the races are six hours and some 24 hours like Le Mans so it will be very different and a great learning experience. I am feeling good. I have got two roles for this season and there could be a third one announced soon."
