Oliver Oakes

Oliver 'Oli' Oakes is the Team Principal and Director of Hitech GP[1] and a successful entrepreneur, and is widely known throughout the industry as Oli. Beginning his racing career on the other side of the pitwall, Oakes became the 2005 World Karting champion,[2] he continued to rise through the junior ranks and was once a part of the Red Bull Junior Team.

Oliver 'Oli' Oakes
Oakes at Hitech's Silverstone HQ
Born
Oliver Oakes

(1988-01-11) 11 January 1988
Norfolk, England
NationalityBritish
Other namesOli Oakes
OccupationTeam Principal of Hitech Grand Prix (2015–present)

Finding his calling in team management, he set up his first karting team in 2011 before launching junior single-seater racing team Hitech GP in 2015.[3]

Early life

Oakes was born 11 January 1988, the son of Billy Oakes, the founder and owner of the former Formula Renault and British F3 team Eurotek Motorsport and well known businessman in the Material Handling Industry: Nexen Group. He was educated at The King's School, Ely.[4] With racing in his blood, he first took to the wheel of a kart at age 4 in his family's garden.

Racing career

Beginning his racing career in Karting, Oakes enjoyed success throughout his early career by being a twice British Open Champion[5] at the age of 12. He ended his Karting Career by winning the Karting World Championship in 2005[2][6] at 17 years of age. His talents saw him attract the attention of the Red Bull Young Driver Programme, alongside Formula 1 graduates Sebastian Vettel, Brendon Hartley, Jaime Alguersuari and Sébastien Buemi.

Moving to car racing in 2006, Oakes debuted in Formula BMW with Carlin Motorsport, where he immediately proved his natural driving ability by taking pole and the victory in his first ever race in the series.[6] Further claiming 3 podiums and a string of strong results, he finished the season in 6th overall in the Formula BMW UK Championship[7] after missing several rounds due to European commitments for Redbull. His promising talent saw him nominated for the BRDC McLaren Autosport Award.[8]

In 2007, Oakes joined Motopark for the 2007 Formula Renault Eurocup season, where he earned a handful of podiums.[6]

2008 saw Oakes move to Eurotek Motorsport to compete in the British Formula 3 Championship. However the new team only entered 3 rounds which put him out of championship contention, he still proved himself by taking an impressive pole position at the final round at Donington.[6][9]

He moved to Carlin Motorsport for his 2009 campaign,[10] but after a dispute with the team, decided to part company with the team before the Rockingham round of the series.[11] Spending the rest of 2009 on the side-lines, Oakes made a name as a test driver for manufacturers, as well as a last-minute appearance in the GP3 Series during 2010 to assist with long time family friend, David Hayle's new team Atech CRS.[12]

Post racing career

Since 2010 he has been on the other side of the pit wall focusing on team and business activities[3] whilst maintaining an ongoing affiliation with Tony Kart.[13]

Team Oakes Racing

Team Oakes is an International Karting team and management stable, founded in 2011 aiming to nurture and guide the transition from karting to car racing. Previous alumni include: Callum Ilott,[14][15] Marcus Armstrong,[16][17][18] Nikita Mazepin[15] and Clement Novalak.[19][15]

Team Oakes have competed in WSK Championship Events, the German DKM Series and the CIK-FIA World and European Championships[20][14][21]

Hitech GP

Teaming up with David Hayle, the original founder of Hitech Racing in 2003, Hitech GP was formed in early 2015.[22] With a clear goal to return a British Team to the top of the Motorsport Ladder in Formula 3.

Hitech currently competes in the FIA Formula 2,[23] FIA Formula 3[24] and F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA[25] as well as managing the Racing Operations of W Series[26] and the FIA Motorsport Games F4.[27] The team also has Technology and Human Performance arms.

Current and past drivers include Formula 1 Driver George Russell,[28][29] Renault Sport Academy members Yi Yifei[30] & Max Fewtrell,[31] Redbull Junior Team members Juri Vips,[32] Jack Doohan,[33] Dennis Hauger[34] & Liam Lawson,[35] Racing Steps Foundation driver Ben Barnicoat[36] and Force India junior now known as Racing Point F1 Team, Nikita Mazepin[37][38].

Hitech Technologies

Hitech Technologies was formed to offer technological support and services to race teams, with the aim of imparting their experience and resources to help teams to succeed[39] established alongside the team headquarters in Silverstone.

Hitech Technologies provide a full design and manufacture supply service throughout Original Equipment Manufacturers and the wider Automotive Industry, as well as motorsport paddocks. Offering the latest technical advancements, research and development, with cutting-edge design services.[40][41]

Hitech Performance

Hitech Performance division was formed to enhance human performance of racing drivers.[42]

Offering on guidance, nutrition support, physio and sports therapy. Hitech Performance provides a premium motorsport-specific service, through purpose built, in–house facilities.[43]

Oakes Recruitment

East Anglia based Recruitment Company, Oakes Recruitment offers specialist recruitment services across a range of fields from HR, manufacturing, finance and accounts to logistics, legal, insurance and engineering.[44]

Oliver is a major shareholder in the company.[45] The company was established in 2019 to help the Oakes Group Companies leverage their recruitment. Oakes Recruitment was closed in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and moved back in-house.

References
  1. "Oliver Oakes". Hitech GP. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. "Oliver Oakes Karting World Champion Interview". www.karting1.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. Wood, Elliot (2 October 2019). "How Hitech GP became the newest force in Formula 3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. Kitchen, The Web. "King's Ely". King's Ely. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. Eason, By Kevin. "Wheldon graduates at the top of class of 2005". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "Oliver Oakes | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  7. "Formula BMW UK 2006 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  8. Anderson, Ben. "Oakes to miss Rockingham races - F3 - Autosport". Autosport.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. "Mighty Oakes grows reputation with pole and best finish to date - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  10. "Oli Oakes: 'No excuses' in 2009". Crash. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  11. Anderson, Ben. "Oakes to miss Rockingham races - F3 - Autosport". Autosport.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  12. "GP3: Oakes confirmed at Atech CRS". Crash. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  13. Wood, Elliot (2 October 2019). "How Hitech GP became the newest force in Formula 3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  14. "Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft: Exciting DKM-finale in Genk". www.kart-dm.de. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  15. "Why does Novalak, a French-Swiss racer, drive under a British Licence?". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  16. "Armstrong to call Europe home in 2015". Speedcafe. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  17. Simmons, Marcus. "Ferrari F1 juniors tipped for Prema seats in new FIA F3 series". Autosport.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  18. Allen, Peter (13 July 2018). "Marcus Armstrong: Ferrari's quick Kiwi taking Europe by storm". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  19. Allen, Peter (17 October 2017). "Karter Clement Novalak to contest 2018 Toyota Racing Series". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  20. "CIK-FIA Karting World Championship - Junior 2018 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  21. "CIK-FIA European OK Junior Championship 2018 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. "About us". Hitech GP. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  23. "Hitech Grand Prix". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  24. "Hitech Grand Prix". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  25. "TEAMS & DRIVERS / Dragon HitechGP - F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA". www.f3asia.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  26. "Hitech". W Series. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  27. "Further details of FIA Motorsport Games revealed". FIA Motorsport Games. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  28. "Motorsport prospect George Russell puts his faith in Hitech GP". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  29. "George Russell seals switch to Hitech for 2015 European Formula 3". Autosport.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  30. Hewitt, Chloe (27 February 2019). "Ye Yifei Joins Hitech GP in 2019 FIA F3 Championship". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  31. "Fewtrell finalises move to Hitech GP". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  32. "Red Bull Junior Juri Vips Joins Hitech GP's FIA F3 Squad". The Checkered Flag. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  33. Wood, Elliot (12 March 2019). "Jack Doohan confirms Hitech GP Asian F3 drive". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  34. Team, Red Bull Junior. "Red Bull Junior Team announcement 2020 - No stopping the Juniors racing and winning into a new season". Red Bull Junior Team. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  35. "Liam Lawson jumps to Hitech GP for second season in FIA Formula 3". Highway F1. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  36. formularapida.net https://formularapida.net/ben-barnicoat-to-f3-with-hitech-gp/. Retrieved 26 May 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. "Hitech Grand Prix confirm Luca Ghiotto and Nikita Mazepin for 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship". FIA Formula 2 Championship. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  38. "Force India test driver Mazepin retains HitechGP race seat". Crash. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  39. "Hitech Technologies | European FIA Formula 3 Team". Technologies. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  40. "Hitech Technologies announce new partnership with Orange Bikes". Technologies. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  41. "CASE STUDY – FIA F3 International Tyre Trolley". Technologies. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  42. "Performance | European FIA Formula 3 Team". Performance. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  43. "Human Performance / Driver Fitness". Performance. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  44. "About Us; Team Members". Oakes Recruitment. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  45. "Persons with significant control". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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