Relaxed Sims Heads Times at Formula Renault Brands Test

06 March 2008

Manor Competition’s Alexander Sims (Peterborough) continued his excellent pre-season form with the fastest time in the second official Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship test at Kent’s Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The 19-year-old set a time of 43.709 (98.72mph) early on the second day of the two-day test, Wednesday, 5th March, a mark that remained unbeaten allowing Sims the luxury of sitting out the afternoon session.

With the morning track conditions offering the best chance for fast times, Fortec Motorsport’s Adriano Buzaid (Oxford) was just 0.096s behind Sims with Alpine Motorsport’s Dean Stoneman (Southampton) in third. Apotex Scorpio Motorsport’s Sho Hanawa (Watford), Fortec’s James Calado (Cropthorne) and CR Scuderia Formula Renault’s Adam Christodoulou (Lichfield) completed the top six.

In the afternoon session, Buzaid continued his strong showing with the session’s best time of 43.942s. Calado, winner of the Racing Steps Foundation scholarship, overcame gearbox problems on Tuesday to finish second, while Manor Competition’s Kris Loane (Kesh) was less than one-tenth of a second adrift of Buzaid in third place.

CR Scuderia Formula Renault’s Scott Jenkins (Bristol) was an impressive fourth-fastest given that he completed less than 30 laps during the day, with Eurotek Motorsport’s Jordan Oakes (Hopton) fifth in his first official test and Apotex Scorpio Motorsport’s Josh Scott (Loughborough) rounding out the top six.

As usual at the tight 1.20-mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit, the drivers were evenly matched with 19 of the 20 cars lapping within just eight-tenths of a second of Sims’ leading time.

Day one of the two-day test had seen the 20 Formula Renault UK drivers joined by several cars from the Formula Renault BARC Championship. Of these, Apotex Scorpio Motorsport’s Ollie Hancock (Hook) set the fastest time of the day at 45.010s (95.86mph), while Hillspeed’s Ahmad Al Harthy (Hathersage) also showed strong pace throughout the session.

CR Scuderia Formula Renault enjoyed the best of the first day’s testing, posting three of the fastest four times with Japanese driver Ryuji Yamamoto (Milton Keynes) topping the timesheet. His mark of 43.890s (98.31mph) was set on his final flying lap, placing him just 0.059s ahead of Adriano Buzaid. The Brazilian had been fastest in the morning session with his best lap of 43.949s.

Several drivers were looking to gain mileage ahead of their debut season in the Championship, with Worswick Engineering’s Rossi (Blackburn) racking up 160 laps and Fortec’s Oli Webb (Knutsford) and Scorpio’s Kieren Clark (Royston) also passing the 100-lap threshold.

Commenting on his performance, Sims, who was quickest during testing at Rockingham one week ago, said: “I was keen to go out early this morning and get a good run on new tyres. Everything seemed to work really well and it came together on that one lap. I’m very happy with the way things are with the car and the team and it helps that I can save my tyres for later in the season.”

The third official Formula Renault UK two-day test takes place on 11th/12th March at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit, ahead of the opening two rounds of the Formula Renault UK Championship at Brands Hatch Indy on 29th/30th March.

Grovewood

See 2008 series calendar for Formula Renault UK

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