Scottish lottery millionaires support 15-year-old’s bid to achieve F1 glory

Published on 03/05/2012 02:45

A YOUNG racing driver has been helped on the road to Formula One by Europe’s biggest-ever lottery winners.

Chris and Colin Weir are sponsoring 15-year-old Gregor Ramsay in his first season racing in the European and Italian Formula Three European Abarth season.

The Weirs won a rollover £161 million Euromillions jackpot in July last year and will co-sponsor Gregor along with billionaire Clyde Blowers chairman Jim McColl.

Gregor races with Swiss team Jenzer but he is being mentored by Ferrari.

He will join Ferrari’s driver academy when a place becomes available.

As fans of Formula One, the Weirs were “pleased and proud” to provide sponsorship.

Chris Weir said: “Gregor is an exceptionally gifted driver and to have achieved what he has by the age of 15 years old is astonishing.

“Gregor is already world-class. As the youngest driver in F3 Abarth, he is racing against the best 18 and 19-year-olds in the world.”

The Ferrari academy aims to train the best young talent in motorsport for a future in Formula One. It has six drivers, each with an engineering team.

Gregor said: “I am so grateful to Chris and Colin for giving me the balance of sponsorship money I needed for this season. It means I can focus on my driving without worrying about raising any more money.”

The 15-year-old from East Kilbride is currently second in the European Rookie Championship and will race in Hungary this weekend.

The Weirs appeared in the Sunday Times Rich List for the first time last weekend, joining 74 other Scots.

Last year the couple made a £1m donation to the SNP.