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Nelson Piquet Jr is one of a new generation of drivers to follow in his fathers’ footsteps by joining the Formula One ranks. Piquet’s father, Nelson Senior, was Formula One world champion on three occasions, winning the title twice with Brabham in 1981 and 1983, and again with Williams in 1987 and his son is hoping to carry on the family tradition, competing with Renault for the 2008 season.

The young Brazilian began his motor racing career in karting at the age of eight. With natural talent, he gradually worked his way up from regional to national series and eventually clinched the Brazilian kart championship three times.

In 2001, he graduated to single-seaters, making his debut in the South American Formula Three championship. He enjoyed a positive start claiming one victory and a further four podiums to finish his maiden season fifth in the standings. In the second year, however, he performed even better winning 13 races to be crowned champion.

With his own national Formula Three title under his belt, Piquet next headed to the United Kingdom to drive in the British series in 2003. The move across the Atlantic failed to dent the young Brazilian’s confidence and in his debut season, he scored six victories and finished third in the standings.

It was enough to secure two Formula One tests with Williams over the winter period and in F3 too, he didn’t have to wait long for more success. In his second British Formula Three season in 2004, he won the championship. Scoring 282 points in total, he won six races to beat Adam Carroll and James Rossiter to the title.

With another F3 title, other Formula One teams began to take notice of the legendary Piquet’s quick and capable son and in February 2005 he was invited by BAR to test in Jerez.

Although it was another step closer to his Formula One dream, Piquet was keen to continue racing and in 2005 he took part in not just the inaugural GP2 season but also A1GP, driving for the Brazilian team. In both series, he made a real impression, enjoying two wins in A1GP and one in GP2.

A confident second season of GP2, won the youngster even more plaudits. Finishing just 12 points adrift of eventual series champion Lewis Hamilton, Piquet was offered two test drives for title-holders Renault. He performed so well that the French team signed him up in an official test role for the 2007 season.

Piquet clocked up over 8,000 test kilometres that year and on the back of that experience landed a 2008 race drive alongside Fernando Alonso. It proved something of a baptism of fire. Whitewashed by the former champion in qualifying and crashing out of numerous races, Piquet’s future was a constant topic of speculation throughout much of his rookie campaign. He kept his head, though, and a podium finish in Germany and genuine improvement late in the season proved enough for Renault to retain him for 2009.