ParcFerme.Com

Alexander Sims is delighted to officially confirm he will return to the Formula Renault UK Championship for a second season of action in 2008 after agreeing a deal to remain with multiple champion team Manor Competition.

 

The 19-year-old single-seater sensation, who lives in Wansford near Peterborough, achieved his maiden Formula Renault UK race victory at Donington Park last July on his way to eighth overall in the championship and is fully expected to be a favourite for title glory this season.

Unquestionably a driver with the potential to rise all the way to the pinnacle of the sport, Alexander has a genuine opportunity to win the Formula Renault UK crown and follow in the wheeltracks of former title victors Kimi Raikkonen, the reigning Formula One World Champion, and Lewis Hamilton, 2007 F1 World Championship runner-up.

 

During his first ever season of car racing last year, the former karting star produced some outstanding performances and is now aiming to string together a consistent title challenge during 2008, the season itself beginning at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on 29th/20th March.
 
Sponsored once again by American based businesses, Ocean Spray, Northern Fruit Company and Stemilt Growers, Wing Long from Hong Kong and Italian company ILIP, Alexander is looking forward to his second year in the ultra-competitive Formula Renault UK series and will be satisfied with nothing less than race wins and the title victory.

 

“The clear aim is to win the championship, there’s no point in trying to dull down our chances”, said Alexander, “Winter testing has gone very well, I think we’ve found more pace in both me and the car. Tony, Dave and the whole team has worked really hard to give us a good base to start pre-season testing with.

 

“We’ll only know where we are when we get to official testing in March but I’m feeling confident. I’m going out there to win as many races as possible and take the title but I don’t just want to do it for myself, I want to win the championship for Manor as the team has put a lot of time and effort into me and they all deserve to be back on top.”

 

While almost always certain to return for a second season in Formula Renault UK with Manor Competition, Alexander also took the opportunity of testing with Formula Renault Eurocup squad SG Formula in December as he considered racing in Europe. It was decided though a return to the UK series would offer greater continuity.

 

Last Friday, 11th January, Alexander also did his bit for charity by taking part in the BP Ultimate Celebrity Kart Challenge at the NEC in Birmingham – an established event which takes place annually at the Autosport International Show.

 

Competing on behalf of the British Heart Foundation, Alexander and his team-mates helped raise awareness for one of the UK’s most worthwhile charities and were unlucky to miss out on a podium finish due to a variety of on-track problems, having started the race from pole position.

Driver Profile – Alexander Sims

 

Nationality: British
Age: 19
Date of Birth: 15th March 1988
Born: St Thomas’ Hospital, London
Lives: Wansford, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

 

Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Racing Driver

Sponsors: Ocean Spray, Northern Fruit Company, Stemilt Growers, ILIP, Cobana, Wing Long

 

Career Highlights:
2007:

Formula Renault UK Championship – 8th overall (1st at Donington Park, 2nd at Brands Hatch and Thruxton, achieved fastest race lap at Donington and named Driver of the Day at Croft, Donington and Thruxton);
French Formula Renault Championship – selected races (5th at Ledenon, 5th at Dijon, 6th at Barcelona);
Formula Renault NEC Championship – 5th at Nurburgring;
Formula Renault UK Winter Championship – best result of 5th at Croft

2006:

Formula Renault UK Winter Championship – 9th overall (2nd at Croft and 5th at Brands Hatch);
CIK Race of Americas, Oklahoma USA – 1st;
Florida, USA Formula A Winter Tour – 4 race victories

2004:

Italian Karting Championship Open Masters – 6th overall;
Formula A Parma Industrials Champion - 1st;
Kartmasters ‘Grand Prix’ Super Libre Senior Karting – 2nd overall;
Super Libre Winter Series Champion - 1st

2003

Kartmasters ‘Grand Prix’ Super Libre Senior Karting Champion - 1st;
Formula A Parma Industrials – 2nd

2002

CIK-FIA 8th Monaco Kart Cup, Monte Carlo – 1st; 
Super 1 MSA British Junior Karting Champion – 1st; 
Kartmasters BARC/MSA Karting Grand Prix – 1st;
BRDC Champions of the Future Champion - 1st;
CIK-FIA European Karting Championship – 6th overall

2001

Super 1 MSA British Junior Kart Karting Championship – 4th overall;
BRDC Champions of the Future Championship – 3rd overall;
Oceania Karting Championship, Australia – 2nd overall

2000

MSA Super 1 National Cadet Karting Champion - 1st; 
British Cadet Karting Championship – 2nd overall;
Kartmasters Champion; 5 Nations Karting Champion - 1st;
English Team International Karting Championship - 1st