ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS

To say Porsche GT3 racing driver Ryan Cullen is on a steep learning curve is something of an understatement, writes Robin Perkins.

At a time when many of his fellow competitors were cutting their teeth in karts, the young Irishman who lives in the English county of Somerset was still dreaming of a career as a racing driver.

And when those same competitors were moving into single-seater cars, Cullen was training as a boxer while working in his father’s business.

But in the past four years, Cullen, now 25, has had a remarkable rise through the motor sport ranks and is on the verge of claiming his first title – the Porsche GT3 Middle East Cup which will come to a climax at the coming Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in Sakhir.

The victory will see him move into the Porsche mobil1 Supercup next season to test himself in one of the hardest classes of its type in which he will be up against drivers with Formula 1 and Rallycross experience in the support races for the 2017 Formula One European season.

Softly-spoken Cullen said: “With just two races to go in Bahrain I’m quite excited about what I could potentially achieve.

“I’m not one of those guys who has been racing since they were very young. I did do one kart race but the cost was just too much so I concentrated on my football.”

But at the age of 20, Cullen discovered that he had a real talent behind the wheel and with the backing of his father’s company, SDS Ltd, set about making a name for himself in motor sport.

“I remember feeling quite depressed when I realised that a career in football wasn’t going to happen.

“I knew I wanted to do something in which I would be totally in control and while I trained as a boxer for a couple of years it was only when my dad said I should try my hand at motor racing that I really found something I loved.

“From then on it was just a matter of dedicating myself to the sport and gaining as much information as possible.”

Cullen was helped when renowned Northern Irish driver Adam Carroll took him under his wing. Cullen added: “Adam was a great mentor and I looked up to him for all the things that he had done in his career. Without his guidance and tutoring I don’t think I’d be where I am today. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for making me the driver I am.”

After obtaining his racing licence, Cullen’s career took off and in his first race in the Formula Ford National Championship he finished second and took two podiums when he moved to Formula Ford MSA GB.

Cullen’s talent was soon recognised by the Marussia Manor Racing Team who picked him to be part of their GP3 team in 2013 and 2014.

In the 2014-15 season, Cullen made his debut in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 finishing the championship in second place with three wins.

In 2016, Cullen made the switch to Porsche Carrera Cup Germany coming 10th in his first season, before moving to the Middle East where he has dominated the championship.

Cullen added: “I want to push on now and win in Bahrain again. I know I’ve come a long way in a short space of time, but I feel ready for the challenge ahead and know I have the speed to beat my fellow drivers.

“I just need to keep on working hard and putting in the times and looking to improve in every race.”

As the Porsche GT3 Middle East Cup reaches a climax at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of the F1 jamboree the Somerset driver is set to take the title.

Cullen has won seven out of the 10 races in the series so far this season and will be crowned champion at the end of the final two races on April 15 and 16. But even with a 33-point lead over his nearest rival, Ryan, who drives for the Specialist Drainage Services team is still keeping his feet on the ground.

He said: “It is nearly impossible for me to lose now but I’m going out there to win both races and try to perform the way that I have over the course of the last 10 races.

“I’m confident in the team and in my ability to finish the job off and it will be a great weekend with the F1 season kicking off at the same time.

“This season has been fantastic and having won both races at the Bahrain International Circuit earlier in March I’m quietly confident I can put in a good performance.

“I like the track and with the race taking place on the longer F1 circuit I think it will play even more into my hands.”

The championship represents the most professional series of its kind in the region and offers a proven pathway to world-class international motor sport.

Season 8 features an international grid of 16 drivers representing 12 different nationalities covering every level of competition from professionals, amateurs and rookie drivers.

The international drivers also hail from Norway, Germany, Luxenberg, Sweden and Turkey with the best local drivers representing Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.