I'm excited to bring back another guest! This time its Canadian teenager Nick Gilkes who this year will be racing in the inaugural series of the new Eurocup-3 series.
Last year, Nick raced in the GB3 Championship, winning once and taking two podiums along the way.
Now however, Nick will race against the likes of Pierre Louis Chovet, Mari Boya, Tas Inthraphuvasak among others as he embarks on his first Europe-based racing season.
Onto Nick's questions!
1. Who’s your racing hero or heroes? I wouldn’t say I have a racing hero per se, although I am a big Albon fan. I also really appreciate the drivers such as Hamilton, who came from virtually no backing and made a career for themselves. It is very motivating to all young drivers who don’t have a budget, such as myself to know that if you’re good enough you still have a chance.
📸 Current Williams driver Alex Albon.
2. What’s the first memory you have of racing? I think it would be when I was 6 years old - my first weekend in karts - and my only until a few years later when I moved back to Canada (as I lived in Barbados from when I was 1 till 6 years old). It was at Bushy Park and I actually competed against my sister, and she was very good. At the time her and current F2 driver Zane Maloney had spent seasons battling each other for championships. I’d done very little driving by this point, so needless to say she was quicker😂
📸 Zane Maloney has impressed since his F3 debut last year, and moved up to F2 where he's continued to make headlines.
3. What’s the best car you’ve driven so far? This would have to be either the Eurocup-3 car or the GB3 car. Both are something special, and have their own unique characteristics. The new Eurocup car has such a modern and fast aero kit which is lovely to drive, while the GB3 is light and extremely nimble. I highly recommend either package!
📸 The inner workings of the Eurocup-3 package are something to behold.
4. What’s your proudest moment so far? I think my GB3 win at Donington is my proudest moment in motorsport so far. To end the season on such a high was undoubtedly the best feeling, and given the season I’d had, felt like the perfect way to close that chapter.
📸 Celebrating a win in GB3.
5. Your favourite overtake you’ve ever done? I think it was a series of collective overtakes on lap 1 at Silverstone in GB3 in 2022. I had a good start, overtook someone on the exit of Maggots and Becketts with no space to spare, and went round the outside of another driver at the Vale chicane. Lap 1’s are so important in today’s motorsport that I think a selection of them from the start of a race is the best answer.
6. Would you rather race on a street course or on an oval? Street course, for sure. Even compared to permanent race circuits I love them. I’ve only ever raced on one, at Circuit Trois Riviers in Canada, but it was one of the most enjoyable weekends I’ve had in motorsport. On street circuits there is no room for error and every mistake is costly - which makes it more special to win on one. While ovals are a totally different and form of motorsport, I can’t help but select street circuits.
📸 Circuit Trois-Riveires in Canada.
7. If you could pick any teammate, past or present, who would you choose? I would have to say someone like Max Verstappen. Drivers such as these are the benchmark, and you have almost the perfect reference as to how good you truly are.
📸 Current two-time world champion Max Verstappen would be Nick's ideal teammate.
8. No gym, no sim, no travel, no racing; how would you spend a whole day off?Hahahahahaha, this is a tough one, you’re taking away almost my whole life in this question! I’d have to say school, although it’s not much of a day off - I miss so many classes for my motorsport, and catching up is always a constant necessity, so I’d appreciate a day to! My school and teachers are great for accommodating for my racing, and therefore going to class would probably be a good idea!
9. If you could drive any race car, past or present, what car would you choose? I think it would have to be a Formula 1 car - although I’m not sure which one. Whoever is winning in the moment, I’ll borrow theirs. 😂
📸 "Whoever is winning".
10. What’s the strangest thing to happen to you while you’ve been in the car? I think colliding with my sister in 2021 was the strangest experience. She spun while we were side by side and we both went into the wall… oops. It was easily the most awkward experience I’ve ever had, especially as I’d never crashed in a car previously.
📸 Megan Gilkes, Nick's sister is racing in the new F1 Academy series this year.
Thanks to Nick for some more great answers, hopefully we'll get a chance to catch up again sometime!
The second race weekend of the Eurocup-3 series takes place on the 27th and 28th of May, tune in and enjoy a new series!
📸 Image credits: F1 Academy, Formula Motorsport Limited, Sky Sports, IndyCar, Eurocup-3, Williams Racing.
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