YOUNG GUN: BEAU RUSSELL

Young Gun: Beau Russell

Ballarat-based Beau Russell is aiming for Formula 1 and although the current situation has made that difficult, his enthusiasm to head abroad has not diminished.

By HEATH McALPINE

This year, Russell was supposed to be competing in the South East Asia Formula 4 Championship, however COVID-19 put pay to those plans.

Although the goals for this year have transitioned to being locally focused, he hopes to one day to get the opportunity to pursue his ultimate goal of Formula 1.

“That’s what my aim is, to go to the top in Formula 1 so the goal is to go overseas and prove how good you are against the best,” Russell told Auto Action.

It won’t be his first motor racing adventure overseas after a successful career in karts from a young age afforded him the chance to race in France and Belgium.

“We didn’t have the best of luck, but it was just amazing being able to go overseas and do what I love racing kids from across the world,” Russell recalled.

It’s just two years since Russell was the sole Australian invited to take part in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a massive step for the then 12-year-old.

This came four years after he started his career, though motorsport has held a presence in Russell’s life since he was in nappies.

“Ever since I was 1, I have been at the race track with dad and his mates,” Russell said. “I just loved being at the race track, places like Phillip Island, Winton and Sandown have been a second home to me.

“I was around 7 when I wanted to race karts, but I wasn’t tall enough.”

By the next year, however, a growth spurt allowed him to make his debut in karts where an association between his father and the owner of RPM Indoor Karts in Ballarat allowed him to build his skills using the facility.

“A Tony Kart provided my first step into racing,” said Russell.

“The next kart I moved into was a Monaco, which came about through work done by my dad at RPM and I raced my most competitive in that in Cadet 9.

“We did a lot of racing in Cadet 9, but because I was winning it was suggested I move up to Cadet 12.

This was a new challenge, however not suited to that class he further moved onto higher categories in karting.

“I completed two races in that class, but I was a bit heavy for it so I progressed to KA3 Heavy and only did a few races in that before moving into KA2. I competed in the Golden Power Series and Country Series, with results in those awarding me 2015 Karter of the Year.”

Trips as mentioned previously followed, but now Russell and his father Colin are preparing for a new challenge in the form of the Victorian Excel Series. The duo are just putting the finishing touches on the machine after encouragement from mates currently competing in the series enticed Russell to join.

He has completed a couple of Tampered Track Days at Sandown to gain experience ahead of a hoped debut by the end of the year.

“I’ve got a few mates that race Excels and they always encourage me to come race,” he explained. “I need to start somewhere, I’m not old enough to do Formula 4 yet, Excels provide a cheap and fun alternative to start off with.”

This web edition of Young Guns aims to highlight some of the talent from within the junior ranks. If, like Beau, you fit the criteria please email [email protected] with a blurb about yourself, the categories you’ve competed in, some imagery to go with the story and contact details.

Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.