Rob always wanted to drive. He didn't know he always wanted to be a racing driver, but in 2000 he got his chance when he completed a week long race intensive course at Silverstone under the guidance of some of the world's best race instructors. After several years learning the ropes in karting Rob gained his racing licence during the week long course and immediately impressed with two second place finishes at Silverstone in his very first two car races. He then competed over the next couple of seasons in the BRDC Single Seater Championship where he established himself as a consistent front runner and "one to watch". In fact in 2002 Rob won his class at the world renowned Formula Ford Festival with a comfortable lights to flag performance.

He then took this confidence into the Winter Series where he won all five races from Pole and not only consistently out qualified faster cars but became the first driver in his class to qualify his car on outright Pole Position by seven tenths of a second and then lead the race. It was this impressive performance in a Zeus Formula Ford that led Rob to be invited to take part in a development test of the Zeus Supersport prototype racer (a role he shared with GP2 and BTCC driver Stephen Jelley) which Rob did with one eye on a move into GT racing. Meanwhile, he continued to work as a Senior Instructor at Silverstone Karting Centre as well as instructing in cars at Silverstone and Rockingham alongside working for SRS Racing where he started to establish an international reputation for young driver coaching in Karting.

After a few seasons away from the track to pursue other avenues, Rob made his return to racing in 2008 in a Toyota MR2. This successful outing at the PowerNights meeting at Silverstone led to the creation of Barnett Motorsport.