Testimonials
Andy Priaulx, three-time World Touring Car Champion
It was a pleasure spending some time with Luke at iZone Driver Performance, and again at Brands Hatch. Luke is a great lad, very keen to learn and he has a lovely manner. Already a race-winner in karting, Luke certainly stands every chance of becoming a highly successful racing driver in the future. Definitely one to watch out for in 2012!
Carolynn Hoy, Director, Formula Kart Stars Championship
Luke has raced in Formula Kart Stars for the past two seasons. Having come in as a virtual newcomer to the sport, in the intervening 24 months, he has improved night-and-day. The confident and assertive Luke Whitworth of 2012 is unrecognisable from the nervous rookie who first joined us back in 2010. So great has been his progress, that at Whilton Mill in 2011, he was picked out by a visiting BMW representative as sufficiently promising to be invited to a BMW Talent Cup test at Brands Hatch. Laudably modest about his impressive achievements, Luke has a bright future in motorsport, no doubt.
Neil Riddiford, Commercial Director, iZone Driver Performance
Recently, Luke completed a structured driver development programme at iZone. With a targeted move from karts to cars in the near future, Luke really needed to understand more about his own personal performance, potential level and key areas of opportunity for improvement. I’m pleased to say that Luke showed a very high level of natural driving skill combined with the ability to digest information quickly and act upon that information effectively. There is no doubt in my mind that Luke has all the right ingredients and ammunition to race with the very best drivers in motorsport, providing he stays focussed, committed, passionate and structured, works hard and has total belief in himself.
Ian Parsons, Ginetta Junior instructor and former karter and single-seater driver
Luke obviously has a lot of natural ability, and he genuinely listened and took notice of what we were saying and acted upon it. By the end of the second session, he had found some pretty serious pace. If he spent another day or day-and-a-half in the car with an instructor, I’m convinced we could get him right up-to-speed and have him competing at the sharp end pretty quickly. Luke was definitely one of the most talented drivers there on the day, and he clearly has a huge amount of potential.
Sam Smith, Team Manager, P1 Racing
When I first took Luke on, he was a total karting novice, and initially, he was driving around at the back most of the time – but then after a few months and as he began to put everything we were teaching him into practice, I started to think, ‘this kid can actually do it’. He is massively inexperienced compared to the drivers he is racing against, and yet in 2011, he qualified well every time in his rookie season in Super 1, which was remarkable and proves the raw speed is undoubtedly there – and in FKS, he notched up three podiums and finished sixth in the championship!
He’s very fast, impressively level-headed, mentally strong under pressure and his feedback has come on in leaps-and-bounds. He is getting better all the time, and is now consistently finishing inside the top five. He has improved tremendously and is capable of handling every situation, and he should do really well this year – he’s ready to go out there and win! It’s such a shame he is struggling for money, and it would be a travesty if that was to curtail his career just as it is really getting going. As long as he is able to continue, Luke will certainly enjoy a successful future in the sport.
Ricky Grice, Founder, Grice Racing Engines
To watch him racing now, you would find it hard to believe that Luke has as comparatively little experience as he does. As he has worked his way up the grid, his confidence has visibly blossomed, and in 2012, I am sure he will be a genuine contender for wins and podium finishes at the very highest level.
Patrick Butterell, Head of Year, Wickersley School and Sports College
On the surface, Luke is a quiet and unassuming young man. However, it doesn’t take long to realise that there is a focussed and determined character behind that facade. Luke is a problem-solver with a real creative streak. He never settles for second-best.
