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Green Light For 2006 Winter Series |
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Thursday, 20 July 2006 |
Formula Renault UK Championship management has confirmed a four-round programme for the 2006 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Series. The series, which gives drivers looking to progress into the 2007 Championship a taste of the FR2.0 car in race conditions, will begin at Brands Hatch Indy on 4th/5th November with rounds three and four at Croft on Saturday 11th November.
The nature of the series allows drivers the chance to experience racing in state-of-the-art single-seater racing cars before embarking on a full year in the Championship in 2007. Of drivers in the 2005 Winter Series, 10 of the 19 entrants are now competing in the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship, including current Championship leader Patrick Hogan (Killiney, Co Dublin) and race-winners James Sutton (New Barnet, Herts), Will Bratt (Banbury, Oxon) and Markus Niemelä (Lincoln).
In a change to 2005, there will not be a Formula Renault BARC Winter
Series. Instead, young drivers looking to progress from the FR2000
Class low-cost feeder series into the National level Championship can
enter the Formula Renault UK Winter Series. This will include two days
of testing, one at each venue, with the engine restrictors used in the
BARC Championship can be removed.
The series is very popular with teams looking to give inexperienced
drivers time in the car under race conditions. Richard Dutton, Team
Principal of current entrants’ standings leader Fortec Motorsport,
said: “I think it’s a great chance to try new drivers for 2007. For
younger drivers it gives them two qualifying sessions, four race starts
and four races so prior to the Championship they experience all the key
areas they need to know.
“At Fortec, we ran Jamie Green in the 2001 Winter Series and he went on
to finish second in the Championship in 2002. Then at the end of 2002
we ran Mike Conway who did well in 2003 before winning the main title
in 2004. So the track record is there for drivers wanting to make an
impact in the UK Championship.”
Commenting on the announcement, Championship Manager Simon North said:
“It will be an exciting and interesting prospect to join the UK and
BARC drivers with FR2.0 cars together. The BARC drivers haven’t had
this opportunity before and it should entice a large field because
there are several drivers who have the ability to make the step up.”
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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