Simon Hill: Kent-based TV commentator Simon Hill is the latest expert to join the
VW Scholarship Panel, bringing over 10 years of broadcasting experience
not only in the BTCC and it’s support races but also Le Mans 24 Hours,
World Rally Championship, DTM, A1GP, Porsche Supercup amongst others.
Hill who also raced himself in Formula Ford and Formula Renault
single-seaters, and on the TOCA support package in Renault Spiders (as
team-mate to 3 times World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx) and Lotus
Sport Elise, will help assess candidates for their media and PR
abilities.
“It’s a great opportunity to give talented drivers a chance. Tony
Gilham is an absolute dream to interview and knows how important things
like this are for sponsors and the team, so I’ll be looking for charisma
and commitment from the winning candidates”
Hill also works tirelessly raising funds for his 18 year-old son
Jake who races in the Ginetta GT Supercup so understands this element of
the sport well.
“It’s so tough raising funds but you have to be
tenacious and inventive – that will come through in the candidate’s
personalities too”
Tim Harvey: Born 20 November 1961 in Farnbrough, London is a racing driver from England. He was the
2008 and 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Champion. A household
name in the 1990s, Harvey won the prestigious BTCC title in 1992, and
was a frontrunner for most of the late 80s and early 90s.
Tim said “I am pleased to be part of this
kind of initiative. To give somebody an opportunity like this is a
great move by Tony Gilham. I have followed Tony’s career from the VW
Racing Cup to us competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and now
commentating on his challenge in BTCC. I am hoping to be able to give an
overall view on what is needed to become a long lasting racing driver.
It is not just speed around the circuit, it is being cool and calm even
in the most heated moments on and off the track and I hope I am able to
spot this in the finalists.”
Sam Roach:
is Championship Director for the Volkswagen Racing Cup. Sam is the
founder of RacingLine Limited, the company behind the Volkswagen Racing
Cup for the past 11 years. Alongside Volkswagen, RacingLine also runs
the MSA Formula Ford championship for Ford Motorsport, as well as a
large number of corporate events for motorsport and manufacturer
clients.
Sam started his career as a mechanical engineer before moving into
the sales and marketing functions of Ford of Europe then Volkswagen UK
before forming RacingLine. During this time he also raced with some
success in a variety of single seater and saloon championships, even
winning his last ever race in a very early Volkswagen Racing Cup round.
This gives Roach a wide experience of what’s required to succeed in
today’s motorsport environment.Sam commented “Much of my day to day work
involves selling and delivering motorsport proposals to manufacturers
and sponsors. It’s never easy, but without embracing the commercial
side of our sport it’s hard to progress. So I will take it for granted
that my fellow judges and I can select the best drivers in the
competition. But beyond that, I want to see someone who also brings the
personality, commitment and professionalism to take their career
further. Like it or not, it’s an essential part of this sport.”
