Leading Formula Renault UK Championship team Manor Competition stands a great
chance of fighting for race victory during the ninth and 10th rounds of the
season at Croft in North Yorkshire tomorrow, Sunday, 1st June, having seen
Alexander Sims secure a front-row start for both encounters.
The MSA British Race Elite member lapped the 2.12-mile track during the
first of today’s two qualifying sessions with a best time of 1m 17.664 seconds
(98.49mph), just 0.167 seconds shy of pole position, with team-mate Kris Loane
posting the eighth fastest time with a lap of 1m 17.997 seconds (98.07mph) –
exactly half a second off the top spot.
Henry Surtees produced a solid run to qualify in 11th position for the
first of the weekend’s races with a time of 1m 18.190 seconds (97.83mph) while
Tom Armour recorded the best qualifying performance of his short Formula Renault
UK career with the 15th quickest lap – 1m 18.434 seconds (97.53mph).
During the round 10 session later in the afternoon, Sims once again came
close to taking pole position but missed out by a 10th of a second. Nonetheless,
a time of 1m 17.149 seconds (99.15mph) placed him on the front row for the
second race and in a great position to challenge for victory.
Northern Irishman Loane was again eighth fastest with a lap of 1m 17.556
seconds (98.63mph), Surtees improved to qualify in 10th position after posting a
time of 1m 17.785 seconds (98.34mph) and Armour was 18th with a lap of 1m 18.002
seconds (98.07mph).
Speaking after qualifying, Manor Competition team boss Tony Shaw said:
“We’re very happy to be on the front row for both races and confident Alexander
will be able to fight at the front tomorrow. Kris and Henry should be strong too
in race conditions and Tom did very well today to qualify in 15th place for the
first race.”
Rounds nine and 10 of the 2008 Formula Renault UK Championship will take
place tomorrow, Sunday, 1st June, at 13.15 and 17.40 respectively. There is also
a possibility the action from race one could be screened live on Freeview,
digital satellite and cable channel ITV4 as part of the station’s live broadcast
from Croft which begins at 12.30.
Provisional 2008 Formula Renault UK Championship Driver Standings
(after Rd8)
4th Alexander Sims, 161pts; 6th Kris Loane, 122pts; 12th
Henry Surtees, 77pts; 18th Tom Armour, 42pts
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