Teo Calvet made his FIA ETRC debut last weekend giving a fine account of his talents...
Becoming the youngest ever driver to start an FIA European Truck Racing Championship race last weekend at Nurburgring was hot French prospect Teo Calvet.
The 17 year-old, driving for the Lion Truck Racing team, gave an accomplished performance throughout the weekend and also became the youngest driver ever to stand on an FIA ETRC podium.
This came in the second race on Saturday when he claimed a third position in the GRAMMER TRUCK CUP after a solid display.
The son of former racer and now well-known administrator, promoter and truck racing personality – Fabien Calvet – Teo is carving a career in the top flight of European truck racing.
“I would love to make a career from racing, yes,” said Calvet last weekend.
"I am also studying now though and I flew in to the track on Friday morning after doing my bachalaureate.
Calvet claimed three 15th places overall in the first trio of races, with a fifth and eighth position in races one and three adding to his impressive third in the GRAMMER CUP category in race two on Saturday afternoon.
"I came to Nurburgring to gain experience and learn as much as possible,” said Calvet.
“I want to get as much knowledge as I can so that I can improve all the time.”
Calvet never took part in any other recognised discipline of racing and his first race was in the French Truck Racing series last season. Remarkably he won at Nogaro beating the likes of team mate Anthony Janiec and many other more experienced drivers.
An interesting fact is also that Calvet was born on 11 February 2001, the very year that his father Fabien stopped his successful career!
Teo has been a regular visitor in his early life at the Nürburgring, accompanying his father and even working with crews and especially Goodyear where he has helped to fit tyres. It is a grounding which has given him a good appreciation of the industry and paddock ambience in racing.
Asked what it was like to share a grid with some of the racing gladiators he has watched since he was boy, Calvet said: “It is impressive to be here on the grid with champions like Hahn, Korber, Kiss, Lacko and Albacete of course.
“But I also want to learn from them and how to race this way. Progress is very important to me going forwards.”