Harvey steps up to single-seaters

Harvey was Asia-Pacific KF2 karting champion in 2008

Lincolnshire teenage kart racer Jack Harvey is to make the step up to single-seat racing cars for 2009.

The 15-year-old will race for the Fortec team in the Formula BMW Euroseries which is a support series at Formula One race meetings in Europe.

Harvey, who was KF2 runner-up last year, said: "I'm incredibly happy to be making this move in my career.

"I'm looking at 2009 as a learning year but I still want to win. The rookie title is definitely a target for me."

Fortec's previous drivers include Grand Prix winners Heikki Kovalainen and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Harvey will be supported by the Racing Steps Foundation as he looks to develop his career which could ultimately lead him to Formula One.

"I'm anxious to see how the year goes and to see what happens," he said.

"But I'm going to try and maximise the opportunity that I've been given to compete at such a high level in my first season of car racing."

Derek Walters, who runs the Racing Steps Foundation, said: "We had seen Jack's results in karting over the last couple of years and he's continued to impress us with his professionalism and his pace."

But Harvey admitted he was sad to end his karting career: "I was looking forward to a successful year in the Super KF class this year but I felt it was the right option and the right time to make the progression."

His team boss at the Birel Motorsport team, Ronni Sala, said: "Jack is a very professional driver and we had some great success with him.

"I am 100% certain that he will be successful in car racing."