Plowman joins Toyota

Karting star Martin Plowman has been put on a fast track to Formula One by joining Toyota’s young driver programme.

Plowman, who won last year’s Asia-Pacific kart title, will make his car racing debut in the Italian Formula Renault Eurocup after being picked as one of just two new faces to join the Toyota programme.

There are now six up and coming drivers on Toyota’s books, with Plowman’s new boss Noritoshi Arai holding out high hopes for his young chargers.

He said: “We cannot guarantee that any of the drivers in the young driver programme will become Formula One drivers.

“But one of the aims of the programme is to seek out the next driving stars and to bring them up step by step to the racing series that most befits their talents.

“We will do all in our power to support them and give all racing fans around the world six extra reasons to support Toyota this season.”

The 18-year-old, from Burton, joins Henkie Waldschmidt as a newcomer to the young driver programme, with the Dutchman also set to compete in Italian Formula Renault.