Arundel, 20, who is the Earl of Arundel, began his F3 career this year after two years in Formula BMW.

Formula 3 began in 1964 and drivers including Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna have gone on to become F1 champions.

In more recent years, 2004 F3 champion Nelson Piquet is now racing in his first season at Renault, 2006 champion Mike Conway is a development driver for Honda, and 2007 champion Marko Asmer is a test driver for BMW Sauber.

Arundel, however, is not looking too far into the future. He said: "I can't be too focused on getting into Formula 1 because then I'll lose sight on what's really important, and that's now.

"I'm 99.9 per cent focused on F3. But the ultimate dream is F1.

"It will be tough, and a lot of really good drivers want to get there, too. I've just got to work hard and see what will happen.

"I can't be scared of not getting into Formula 1, because I'm in F3 and loving it."

In F3, Arundel is driving for Raikkonen Robertson Racing, for whom F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, is co-owner.

In his first weekend of racing in F3, Arundel finished ninth and 10th, after starting the grid in 15th and 12th positions. But, in his second race weekend, he came 11th, out of the top-10 points positions, in the first race and failed to finish in the second.

He has already noticed the difference between Formula BMW and said: "Formula 3 is a different ball game and is a lot more competitive.

"If I had a bad day in Formula BMW in my second year, I would still be in the top five. Now, if I do a good job in F3, I could still come second-last. It's early days, though, and we're still sorting the car out."

On his opening races at Oulton Park over Easter, Arundel said: "I got two lower top-10 finshes which, in terms of results, is not where I want to be.

"But I've got team mates who are really quick, and who won races last year, and they are struggling this year as well.

"I know I've got to up my game, but I'm still learning, and still fresh, and there's more to come from us.

"I'm really looking forward to the rest of this season, and am hoping to challenge with the best of them."

While wanting to challenge at the top, Arundel has refused to set himself any targets, and said: "It's not really a year for targets. I could say I want to finish on the podium five times, and finish in the top six, but even if I don't, I could still be happy."

In Formula BMW, Arundel won the rookie title in his first year, then finished third in his second year. He said: "I didn't manage to win the overall Championship in my second season, which was my aim, so that was a little disappointing, but it was a good learning process."

While in Formula BMW, Arundel got advice from former F1 champion Nigel Mansell, who was an ambassador for the organisation.

Arundel said: "It was really good to get tips from him, and to see all his trophies at his house near Exeter.

"He was one of my childhood heroes, and I have massive respect for him.
"Damon Hill, who won the World Championship in 1996, was also a childhood hero, and so too was Ayrton Senna, who was a great icon.

"Now I look up to the likes of Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen.

"Hamilton is a complete inspiration. He went in as a rookie, and maybe rookies will be given more of a go as a result.

"I think it will be between him, Kimi and the Ferrari drivers for the title this year."

Arundel started out go-karting aged eight, before he began racing properly, aged 11. He said: "I've always loved racing. I used to love watching F1 and always wanted to race, myself."

What about the speed he gets up to? Arundel said: "In F3 it's about 150 to 160 miles per hour. Like anything, in the first test it's pretty quick. But it makes you concentrate, and the top speed goes by pretty quickly.

"After the first day or two, you just get used to it.

"The corners where you are going 120-130mph are difficult, and that can still be scary, but apart from the odd bump in Formula BMW, I've not had any big crashes."

Away from racing, Arundel enjoys playing squash and tennis "for fun, although I'm not really that good" and is in the first of a three-year degree at Bristol University, studying economics.

He said: "Sometimes you can over-focus on racing, so it's good to have something to get away from it.

"But, hopefully, it will get to the point where I have to give up the degree for my racing."

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