A BLACKMORE electrician's bid to become a Formula 1 racing driver may run out of gas, unless he can raise £40,000 in sponsorship.
For ultra competitive Oliver Sirrell, 24, motor racing is a way of life.
He was born into it and grew up playing with bikes and engines.
In the two full seasons he has raced cars at amateur club level, he has won the championship as a privateer in a self-funded and built Van Diemen 1800cc Zetec car.
He has already competed at Donington Park, Silverstone and Brands Hatch, where he met his wife Jen, 29, in the paddock.
And by already proving he is too quick for Formula 4 level, Oliver, who lives in Blackmore Road, has since been wowing his rivals after stepping up to the Protyre Formula Renault BARC 2012 Championship. The final race will be televised on ITV next month.
And despite motor-mad Oliver putting in 20 hours a week chasing sponsorship and getting his £4,500 Van Diemen runner race-worthy on top of his full-time job, he will never claim the finishes he needs to push on to Formula 3 or beyond, unless he can join an established race team.
But teams at Formula Renault level will only take on drivers who can raise sponsorship of at least £70,000.
"This year I have been a midfield runner, but other teams say that is a hell of an achievement, but it's very frustrating because people know I have the ability to do better," he said.
"When I race it's just me on my own. I am the mechanic, the engineer, the driver and, because of this, I can't compete on a level playing field with drivers that are part of a team.
"Unless I find the funding, my chance of progressing to a national level would halt and it would come to a point where I would just not race any more."
But because of his impressive performances, Oliver, whose wife, brother, sister, father and father-in-law also race, has been handed a lifeline.
SWB Motorsport, one of 11 teams Formula Renault BARC races – have offered him a subsidised spot on their team next year, if he can find around £40,000.
"I have been told I have potential to go far and I want to be able to take my racing as far as I can, my end goal is to race in Formula 1.
"I have thrown every spare penny I earn into my racing and have support from my family, but unless I can find more I don't have a chance."
In return for sponsorship from businesses, organisations and private individuals, Oliver says he can offer much more on top of car and kit advertising.
"If you want to you can get really involved with my racing, I can bring my car to corporate events and you can be guaranteed the best seats in the house at my races."
He added: "It's something I have always been passionate about. For as long as I can remember I have always known it, done it and been involved with it, and If I stopped, life would just not be as enjoyable.
"Racing is not just a hobby, it's a way of life."
To discuss sponsorship opportunities with Oliver, call 07753 452181 or e-mail oliversirrell@yahoo.co.uk
