Sheffield-born driver prepares for second year in British F4

Rowan Campbell-Pilling after success on Silverstone debut last season, photography by Jakob Ebrey Photography

Sheffield-born driver Rowan Campbell-Pilling says, “I’ve got a goal for this year, and I won’t leave a stone unturned to try and achieve that,” as he continues preparations for his second season competing in British F4.

If you keep up to date with Sheffield Magazine, you will know that we were lucky enough to follow Campbell-Pilling’s rookie year in British F4.

A thrilling 10 round race calendar saw the young talent win 21 trophies across 30 races and finish the season within the top 10 driving for Argenti – an impressive result for the rookie driver.

Now he prepares to do it all again, this time racing for Sheffield-based team JHR Developments.

In what is the biggest change for Campbell-Pilling, he explained the decision to join a new team this season: “I’m very happy to be able to have a team that’s not only very close (based in Dronfield) but they’re very good – they’ve had some incredible results over the past few years.

“The decision was hard, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve got a state-of-the-art simulator at their base, which is 20 minutes down the road.

 “It means I can go and spend a lot of time with the team and get settled in nice and early before the season starts and do a lot of sim work.

“Hopefully we can go and repeat their winning streak in British F4.”

It is an exciting partnership made right here in the City of Steel, and representing Sheffield is something Campbell-Pilling takes great pride in.

A few weeks ago, the 18-year-old was announced as the first individual to receive the prestigious ‘Made in Sheffield’ mark – an honour recognised with an event outside the Town Hall with figures including the Master Cutler Philip Rodrigo in attendance.

When we asked him about the honour, Campbell-Pilling was unable to hide the smile on his face as he explained just how much it meant to him.

He said: “It is just incredible. To be the first individual to be able to have the prestigious ‘Made In Sheffield’ trademark, being able to wear it on my race suit, the car and on my helmet – it is amazing, there is no other way of putting it.

“I’m so incredibly honoured to wear that. I was sort of blown away really when I got told.

“I’m Sheffield through and through, born and bred, I love flying the flag for this city and anything Sheffield, I’m all behind it.

“It’s incredible to be able to fly the ‘Made in Sheffield’ flag all over the UK and in Europe this year and then hopefully worldwide in a few years’ time,” he added.

Shifting our focus back to the challenge awaiting the F4 driver, we asked how preparations were looking.

“A lot of gym work over the winter, a lot of sim prep so doing as much sim as possible before going to tests,” he said.

“We’ve had some very productive tests with JHR already this year. We’re making good progress with me and my driving and also the car.”

Reflecting on the differences between how he felt this time last year to now, he said: “As a second-year driver coming back you know what the crowds are like, what the atmosphere is like, you know your place in the paddock. I think you know how the weekend’s work, what you need to do, what you don’t need to do.

“This time last year was filled with uncertainty in my mind because you don’t know what’s coming. My expectations were blown out the water last year, like the crowds are just absolutely massive – it’s unbelievable.

“Going into your second year knowing what’s to come and how it will be is definitely a nice starting point.”

Last year, Campbell-Pilling told us that his main goal for his rookie year was to learn as much as possible.

We asked him the same question just under three weeks away from the season opener at Donington Park and he said: “It’s always about learning for me, as long as I learn as much as possible and take away as much as possible from every race weekend then you’re always progressing and getting better.

“I know what I want to achieve, and I’ll do anything to achieve that, which is just to learn and get the best results for myself and the amazing team behind me at JHR also.

The first round of the Wera Tools British F4 Championships will take place at Donington Park on the 26th – 27th April. We are looking forward to following Rowan Campbell-Pilling’s season as his journey in single seater racing continues.