Photo: GP3 Media Service
Two second-places at Spa have put James Calado just five points behind teammate Valtteri Bottas in the GP3 title battle ahead of the season finale…
Factfile:
Full name: James John Calado
Date of birth: 13 June 1989 (age 22)
Nationality: British
Currently: Second in GP3 standings
Starting his career in karting like most other aspiring racing drivers, James won the British Cadet Championship in 2001. In 2003 he was runner-up in the European ICA Junior Championship, finishing third the following year behind Stefano Coletti and Jules Bianchi. In 2005 he won the European ICA Championship.
Stepping up to cars was proving to be difficult due to a lack of funding, but then won a shoot-out for a drive in Formula Renault UK in 2008 with the newly-setup Racing Steps Foundation, an organisation created to support underfunded British racing talent. He finished seventh overall in his rookie season, scoring two pole positions and one victory. At the end of the year he contested the British and Portuguese winter series, winning both titles with a total of five wins from eight races.
James racing in Formula Renault UK – Photo: Skully Collins
Remaining in Formula Renault UK for 2009, James won eight of the 20 races, more than any other driver. However, three retirements cost him his title chances, finishing runner-up to Dean Smith.
James graduated to the British Formula 3 Championship in 2010, racing for top team Carlin. He finished runner-up in the standings behind teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, having won five races.
Calado finished as runner-up in his debut season of F3. Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
He made the switch to the GP3 Series for 2011, racing for champion team ART. He finished second at Barcelona, before winning next time out at Valencia. He then scored points in both races at Silverstone and the Nurburgring, before a third place finish came at the second race in Hungary. In the next round at Spa he took pole position before finishing second in the first race. In the second race he charged through from seventh on the grid to finish second. That promoted him to second in the standings, just five points behind teammate and pre-season favourite Valtteri Bottas heading to the final rounds at Monza.
Talent rating: James has showed his talent and potential in every season of racing so far, from his solid rookie year and then championship challenge in Formula Renault, to an impressive debut year in F3. This year he has emerged from a highly-competitive series in GP3 to head into the season finale with a realistic chance of the title. 8/10
Chances of getting to F1: The Racing Steps Foundation will help him to get into GP2, be it next season or the year after via a season in FR3.5. Once he gets there he will need to perform as like Oliver Turvey before him, RSF will likely not pay for any further years in GP2. 7/10
Visit James’ Wikipedia page
Photo: GP3 Media Service