A teenage racing driver is gearing up for the international grid – and he is determined to bring his city with him.

Rowan Campbell-Pilling, 19, is set to compete in the GB3 Championship this season, a key pathway for drivers aiming to climb to the top levels of motorsport .

But despite racing across Europe, Campbell-Pilling says his idenity remains rooted in Sheffield and particularly in it’s people.

He said: “It’s the best sense of community I’ve ever felt. People have each other’s backs and ultimately we strive forward as a city together. There’s that northern mindset – you work at it, you work at it, you work at it, until it becomes good.

“There’s a lot of Sheffield instilled in me and I’m proud to be from Sheffield and to be able to work with such amazing partners and also being an ambassador for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.”

Campbell-Pilling said that rather than one defining breakthrough, his journey has been a steady climb from karting into cars, built on consistent progress and results with a series of “pinch me moments” along the way.

But like any driver, it hasn’t come without setbacks.

One of the most serious came during a heavy crash at Silverstone in 2024 with Thomas Bearman.

“It was wet. Really really wet, lots of spray and I couldn’t see him. We have a joke about it now, you know. But it wasn’t pleasant at the time, it’s sort of one of those where you’ve got to laugh about it otherwise you cry”

Experiences like that, he said, are part of what builds resilience in the sport.

“You can go one weekend and be nowhere and then the next you can be right at the front… it teaches you to never give up”

Now stepping into GB3, he will race on some of Europe’s most iconic circuits, including Spa, Hungaroring and Barcelona but still one stands out above the rest.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Donington, in front of such a great home crowd.

“It’s so important to show that you can achieve your dreams as long as you work hard enough and are willing to make the sacrifices.”