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Cambridgeshire motor racing star Alexander Sims produced a faultless
performance at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit this morning during the second of two
days of official Formula Renault UK testing at the Kent venue, the 19-year-old
heading the times in superb style.
Having dominated for the duration of the four-hour session, Alexander
posted an unbeaten lap of 43.709 seconds (98.72mph) – almost two 10ths of a
second faster than the quickest time set at the circuit yesterday – before
electing to conclude his day’s running at the cessation of the morning
test.
Rather than waste valuable tyre allocation during this afternoon’s final
three hours, and in view of his un-challenged performance this morning, the
Manor Competition ace took the wise decision to sit-out today’s second session
and instead focus on the next official test which takes place at Snetterton in
Norfolk.
The choice proved to be absolutely spot-on with nobody else able to better
Alexander’s time during the afternoon. This, of course, means he not only
concludes this week’s official test as the quickest driver but he has now been
fastest overall during both of the Renault Sport UK sanctioned pre-season runs
held so far.
Alexander, who lives in Wansford near Peterborough, commented: “We were
very quick straight away this morning. We did a few laps and were quickest by
about 0.15 seconds and the team and I agreed if we were going to put on a new
set of rubber we’d only use two new tyres, we wouldn’t run a full set.
“After putting those on the car we managed the 43.709 second lap and nobody
else was able to go faster, even though our closest challengers all used a full
set of new tyres. We were very strong again today and we’re in a very good
position at the moment.”
Although there was the opportunity for some of Alexander’s championship
rivals to potentially lap quicker this afternoon with the use of new tyres, the
Manor driver felt there was nothing further to be gained from emerging back out
on track for session two.
“There was no need for us to do anything further today”, added Alexander,
“It was more important to save tyres instead of pushing to go quicker this
afternoon, there’s absolutely nothing to be gained from doing that. In the end
we were quickest anyway.
“We’ve done all the testing we needed to do at Brands. That’s not being at
all arrogant or over-confident but when we come back to race at the circuit at
the end of the month the track conditions will be different. We wouldn’t learn
anything more by pounding around this afternoon. The car feels very good, the
team is working well and I’m very pleased.”
Alexander will be back on track at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk next
Tuesday, 11th March, and Wednesday, 12th March, for the third official
pre-season Formula Renault UK test.
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