Supplied by driver’s PR.

15 MARCH, 2018 – Rising single-seater star Hampus Ericsson has been awarded the Ronnie Peterson Award 2017 for achievement in motorsport.

The award has been established by Swedish car magazine Auto Motor & Sport together with Nina Kennedy, the daughter of Ronnie Peterson.

“There are six world championships in car motoring and Swedes took three of these titles in 2017,” said editor-in-chief Alrik Söderlind.

“In Sweden, there are two big yearly sporting achievement awards. They have been awarded every year since 1925 and 1979, respectively.

“Not once during all those years has anyone in car racing won either of those awards. For this reason, we are now instigating the Ronnie Peterson Award.”

“There are three categories: Best Man, Best Woman and Best Junior. The first ever winner in the Junior category is Hampus Ericsson.

“He is the karting ace that follows in the footsteps of his big brother Marcus. In 2017 he finished 10th in the very competitive F4 British Championship in his rookie year. He was also crowned Ford F4 Challenge Cup champion.”

Congratulations Hampus! Tell us, what your best memory is from the 2017 season?

“Thank you so very much! My best memory was the last race of the year, at Brands Hatch. I had everything in my hands, leading the Challenge Cup standings coming into the final race weekend.

“However everything went wrong during the Saturday and I had to make it all up in the last race on Sunday. Thankfully I did – by coming third in that race! Enough to win the Challenge Cup.”

What is your target for 2018?

“This will be my second season in the F4 British Championship. I really only have one goal and that is to win the title. To succeed, everything must work – the car, the team and my own performance. It is not easy to win a championship, but given how I feel right now, I have all the ingredients to succeed.”

Tell us about your dreams for 2019?

“My focus at the moment is on this season, but if I allow myself to dream a bit, there is the F3 championship which will run on the support package for F1 in Europe in 2019. To take the next step into the F3 championship is the right way to go because my final goal is to make it to F1.”