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Sims Cements Front-Runner Status At Brands Hatch |
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Tuesday, 13 March 2007 |
Nottinghamshire-based Formula Renault UK title contenders Manor Competition enjoyed a highly productive test session at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit today, the venue for the opening two rounds of the 2007 season, with Alexander Sims once again confirming his status as a true star in the making.
The Peterborough driver, who celebrates his 19th birthday on Thursday (15th March), started the day well and by the end of the morning session he had posted the second fastest time with a lap of 44.152 seconds.
Sims then produced a similarly rapid performance throughout the
afternoon but although having shaved a further five 100ths of a second
off his quickest time of the morning to set a new best of 44.100
seconds (97.845mph), the multiple karting champion did slip to third
spot overall on combined times.
“Alexander has been strong once again today and unquestionably has the
pace to be a consistent challenger at the front this season”, said
Manor boss Tony Shaw, “He’s doing a terrific job but we know we need to
find another couple of 10ths of a second to ensure he’s in the best
position possible.”
Welsh pairing Alex Morgan and Richard Singleton were both very evenly
matched by the end of the day’s testing, the latter just shading his
countryman by two 1,000ths of a second on combined times.
Morgan’s best of 44.388 seconds came during the first of the day’s two
sessions, the Birmingham-based student suffering from terrible traffic
throughout the afternoon, while Singleton improved by two 10ths of a
second during the second session to move within three 10ths of a second
of Sims.
Northern Irishman Kris Loane, meanwhile, endured a fairly miserable day
which came to a premature conclusion following an engine failure, and
subsequent fire, midway through the morning test session.
Loane’s best time prior to the problem was a lap of 44.585 seconds but
after surveying the damage to his car, a team decision was taken to
curtail his involvement in the track action and ensure his charge is
repaired to the highest standards in time for next week’s final outing
of the pre-season at Oulton Park Island Circuit.
“It was obviously a real shame when Kris’ engine let-go”, explained
Shaw, “Like Alex and Richard, Kris has been progressing well and he was
looking forward to building on the great showing he had at Snetterton
last week. These things happen though sometimes.
“Taking the engine problem out of the equation, as a team we did have a
productive test and we’re confident we’re developing a competitive
package. With the weather being so pleasant today, conditions were
ideal to get plenty of work done ahead of the first race of the year
which, of course, will also be at Brands Hatch.”
Oulton Park Island Circuit in Cheshire will host the final official
Formula Renault UK test of the pre-season next Wednesday, 21st March,
ahead of the opening two rounds of the year at Kent’s Brands Hatch Indy
Circuit on 31st March/1st April.
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