Biography

Will Palmer, the 2015 BRDC Formula 4 Champion and McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner, is a young, up-and-coming British driver competing with R-ace GP in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 for the 2017 season.

Will enjoyed a promising 2016 season as he raced in both the Eurocup and Northern European Cup Formula Renault championships with R-ace GP. He scored multiple podium finishes in both categories before scoring his maiden victory on the continent at Estoril, at the season-ending Eurocup meeting in Portugal.

Prior to that, Will claimed the 2015 BRDC Formula 4 Championship in stunning style, winning exactly half the races across the year with 12 victories. He also secured 10 pole positions and 15 fastest laps, in addition to three other podium finishes, as he enjoyed a truly dominant championship-winning season. That led to him being nominated for the prestigious McLaren Autosport Award and after a number of on and off-track assessments, Will was named as the winner at the Autosport Awards in London and received the prize of £100,000 cash and a test in a McLaren Grand Prix car.

Will claimed the BRDC F4 Winter Championship title in 2014, taking four wins from the eight races. This success followed off the back of a promising season in the main championship, where he took two wins and finished sixth overall in the standings. He was in contention for the title up until the very last weekend of the year.

Palmer competed in the F4 Winter Championship in 2013, securing a maiden single seater podium at Snetterton before claiming his first win in the series at Brands Hatch. Prior to this, Will had finished third overall in the Ginetta Junior Championship, with a maiden car racing win in treacherous conditions at Rockingham and nine further podiums in his second full season of racing.

He enjoyed a promising campaign in 2012 with his highlights being a pair of second place qualifying positions at Silverstone and a battling drive from seventh to fourth at a damp Thruxton. He ended the year 12th overall in the drivers' standings, despite not contesting all rounds, with a total of 11 top 10 finishes. That year, the Cranleigh schoolboy also contested the championship's winter series where he scored consistent results, including his first podium at Rockingham to end third overall.

Will made his car racing debut in 2011 competing in selected rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championship with Hillspeed. After a solid debut at Snetterton, he made two further appearances that season at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, the latter where he attained a best of eighth. He also competed in the championship's winter series at Snetteton where he enjoyed a best finish of sixth.

Will lives in Southwater, West Sussex, and is the younger son of former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer and brother of Renault Sport F1 driver Jolyon Palmer.

Will's Career in pictures

2017 Formula Renault 2.0

2016 Formula Renault 2.0

2015 BRDC F4 Championship

2014 BRDC F4 Winter Championship

2014 BRDC F4 Championship

2013 BRDC F4 Winter Championship

2013 Ginetta Junior Championship

2012 Ginetta Junior Championship

2011 Ginetta Junior Championship

Stats

Date of Birth: 15/02/97
Age: 20
Nationality: UK
Height: 6"0
Sponsors: Comma, PalmerSport, MSV
Other Interests: Tennis, cycling, football.
Racing Idol: Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso
Favourite Circuit: Brands Hatch GP
Favourite Colour: Blue

 

Target

"I'm delighted to be staying with R-Ace GP for a second season in Formula Renault Eurocup for 2017. I've learnt a huge amount in my first year racing in Europe, and after a strong end to the year as well as a very promising post season testing program, I'm very confident of fighting for the title next year. I worked well with R-Ace GP this year and I have absolute confidence in everyone in the team to give me the best opportunity possible to deliver next year.

"It is also exciting to see the Formula Renault Eurocup being expanded for next year. There will be 10 rounds which will include all European Formula One tracks, including Monaco once again which I am massively looking forward to already. There are also some new teams joining the series so I am sure it will be a very competitive year for the championship."

 

Career History

2017
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with R-ace GP.

2016
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup with R-ace GP, scoring one Eurocup win and multiple podium finishes.

2015
BRDC Formula 4 Champion with HHC Motorsport, taking 12 wins from 24 races. Autosport Club Driver of the Year and McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner. 

2014

Sixth in BRDC F4 Championship with two wins and five further podiums with HHC Motorsport. BRDC F4 Winter Championship winner with four victories from eight races

2013
Third in Ginetta Junior Championship with one win and nine further podiums with HHC Motorsport

Fifth in BRDC F4 Winter Championship with one win and one further podium from eight races with HHC Motorsport

2012
Ginetta Junior Championship, maiden full season racing with HHC Motorsport with 11 top 10s and a best of 4th

2011
Ginetta Junior Championship, part-season with Hillspeed with one top 10