Following in his father's tracks

Thursday, 11 November 2010 09:41

A very suave and sophisticated British gentleman, with his trademark ‘tache and slicked back hair, won the world’s top sports title, the Formula One World Championship, twice in 1962 and 1968.

His son rewrote history when he too won it in 1996. And now the third generation of the extremely talented Hill family aims to make it a hat-trick. Introducing Josh Hill: son of Damon, grandson of Graham.

I meet 19 year old Josh at a sunny, but very cold Snetterton race circuit in Norfolk. It is winter, after all, and he’s competing in the first round of the 2010 Formula Renault UK Winter Cup. Unlike some teenagers that appear to be non-talkative, moody and rebellious, Josh is the complete opposite. Very likeable, he is articulate, confident and once he puts on the trademark blue and white helmet, you know he means business.

Most racers born with racing in their blood are usually hitting the track when they start walking, but like his father and grandfather Josh was a latecomer only getting into go karting at friends’ birthday parties when he was 12 years old, and which he invariably used to win.

‘I had a go in a two-seater GP Masters car at Silverstone with my dad driving. I thought, ‘I quite like this’, so the following week asked if I could start karting and we did the last couple of rounds of Club 100 that year, a year of Club 100 and then a year of Ginetta Juniors.’

After success racing Ginettas, Josh then made the next step upto the British Formula Ford Championship, a level which nowadays doesn’t seem as popular as the fashionable, entry-level Formula BMW.

‘Formula Ford is so great for car control, more power than grip really. I’ve shown it today. I was nearly quickest in the wet, just like Formula Ford in the dry, sliding it all over the place. The fact it’s also launched loads of F1 careers makes it a great category and I’ve had a great time racing there.’

So what better way to move upto the next level in racing, Formula Renault, than with Manor Competition, (formerly Manor Motorsport) a team which propelled the careers of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen to F1 Championship stardom. Despite this being his first foray into ‘slicks and wings’, his debut has been very impressive.

He qualified in 7th and finished in that position in the first race, but the second race showcased his true potential. When the run-off at Coram Curve looked more like a Formula Renault graveyard with some of the drivers spectacularly spinning off, Josh sliced through the field only to end up with electronic gremlins.

‘It was a brilliant race. I avoided incidents ahead of me and managed to fight my way upto third until the safety car came out. Just towards the end of the last safety car lap, my dash was starting to turn on and off and resetting itself. I went off on the next flying lap, came into the second corner and my dash turned off completely when I braked. As soon as I came out of the corner and changed upto fourth on the back straight, the engine cut out. It was just an electronic glitch and the Renault guys said they’ve never seen anything like it. So it’s disappointing, but definitely a very strong performance in the second race.’

But the Winter Cup isn’t over and he’ll have four races at Pembrey to continue to show his racing talent.

His parents were there, both braving the cold and watching at the Russell Chicane. Camera in hand, Damon was filming his son as he raced around the track, no doubt one for the impressive video archives they must have at home. With your dad as a former World Champion you must get the best racing advice.

‘He told me to not get into traffic in qualifying, which I said ‘thank you’, but I know that myself. He didn’t have much to say after the first race because it was my first race and a pretty good result, not brilliant, but at least I didn’t go backwards. But then he was full of praise after the second race because it was a strong performance. He thought I did really well showing lots of promise.’

With the offspring of famous racers, such as Nico Rosberg, making a name for themselves and showing that they’re not at the top of their game only because of their family history, some might suggest that it gives these drivers added pressure to perform.

‘I’ve never got to a situation where I’ve gone, ‘I’ve got to succeed now because I’ve got to do the Hill name proud’. It’s making myself proud and showing what I can do, rather than what the Hill family can do. Obviously that is a big factor, but when I’m racing it’ll be good if I come first, not the Hill helmet.’

Josh certainly seems to have his father’s fierce determination and he has big plans for his future in racing.

‘I’ve come this far, so the ultimate aim is Formula One. It’ll be absolutely brilliant to race in Formula One and I’ll definitely be aiming for the championship.’

Away from the circuit, Josh has inherited his dad’s musical skills, although challenge him to Guitar Hero at your peril.

‘I play the drums quite avidly and play guitar as well. Guitar hero only has five buttons rather than twenty-two frets and six strings, but I’m very excited about the new Guitar Hero as it’s a real guitar. So yes you could say I’m a Guitar Hero Pro.’

If Eddie Jordan needs anymore musicians in his band, then he can no doubt call on both father and son, but there is a steely resolve about this Hill and I have no doubt that he will make it to Formula One. Will he be Champion one day? Well I might be heading down to William Hill to put on a wager… By Olivia Gauch - Photos by Marc Waller

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