WILL Stevens’ ex form tutor at Southend’s Thorpe Hall School cannot wait to see his former pupil make his Formula 1 debut this weekend.

Stevens, who lived in Hadleigh as a youngster, will be racing for Caterham at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

And Lee Pullen, who is now deputy head-teacher at the school, cannot wait to tune in.

“I was Will's form tutor and was involved in fitting his curriculum around his racing career,” recalled Pullen.

“He was an increasingly successful driver in British Karting and progressed to the European series which involved long weekends away and also testing sessions midweek.

“Will was a really popular member of the school who never boasted about his skills, but when asked could always regale us with interesting anecdotes about the kart racing scene.

“Will left us in year 10 when he moved closer to the headquarters of many of the main racing teams in Surrey.

“Since then I have keenly followed his career in Formula Renault and remain really excited about his prospect of potentially fulfilling his dream to race in Formula 1.”