James Charman

**James Charman**

Formula Challenge Career
Nationality	British
Active Years	2012-
Team(s)	Hatchell-Pennine Motorsport
Grand Prix	2
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podium finishes	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First Grand Prix	Brands Hatch

James Charman is an English driver in the GPVWC currently driving for Hatchell-Pennine Motorsport in Formula Challenge. James began sim-racing in 2008 on Live for Speed, competing in a small community tin-top championship known as "Real-Life Racing" (spin-off of "Real-Life BATracer) with fellow GPVWC members Lee Davidson, Scott Moore (who teamed with Charman in RLR) and Jack Mace.

James took a couple of years away from competition sim-racing to focus on college work and personal matters, but was coaxed back into competitive racing by peers in 2012. Along with running in the GPVWC, James will be participating in the 2012 GRCE Mad Dog Endurance Series.

Early Career

James began sim-racing in 2008 on Live for Speed, but has been playing motorsport games since he was able to pick up a controller.

Since 1997, James has played every Formula One and ToCA release to date on PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and PC. In 2007 James bought a new computer with Race07 and a wheel setup, and began sim-racing proper.

James was a founding member of the Real-Life Racing LFS hatchback series, finishing 10th in the inaugural season. James only raced part-time in Season 2, but had a career-best finish of 3rd at the Kyoto round of the season.

He took time out of sim-racing after RLR in order to keep up with growing college work and personal issues, but returned in 2012 after accepting an invite to race for Team Laptop Shop in the 2012 GRCE Mad Dog Endurance Series. Days later James was directed to GPVWC and signed up to enter the inaugural Formula Challenge season. After speaking with Liam Hatchell, James signed a contract with Hatchell-Pennine Motorsport in February 2012.

Formula Challenge

2012

James signed for Hatchell-Pennine Motorsport in 2012 after the team's original second driver was released. James took the role of partnering Ihab Abbas ahead of the opening round at Brands Hatch.

James' first race meeting was a relative success. After not impressing on the time sheets in practice or qualifying he wound up 19th on the grid for the feature race. After picking through accidents happening in front of him and a clean race, James would finish the race in a solid 8th place. He held 6th place for a while in the reverse-grid sprint race, before finally ending in 8th once again.

Personal Life

James grew up in Sharpthorne, West Sussex and Horley, Surrey. In 2007 James, along with his family, relocated to Powys, Wales.

James has grown up around motorsport, with his earliest memories being sat at Paddock Hill Bend in his pushchair. His parents met at Brands Hatch while his mother was at the racing school and his father was beginning his career as a motorsport photographer. Since then, his father went on to work for many years in the BTCC as a photo-journalist, and founded Super Touring Magazine.

James has a major passion for music, playing many instruments - predominantly guitar. He has performed in many pubs and local music festivals in the Welshpool/Oswestry area. His highlight was performing in London at The Bridgehouse 2 venue on the eve of the 2011 High Voltage Festival.

James also has an interest in heritage railways and is a qualified Station Master and Guard at the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.