Silverstone International 8/9th May 2004

Official Race Report

Report: © Copyright Renault Sport Technologies 2004 - All rights reserved

Race 1

Swedish sensation Alex Storckenfeldt took both his and Mark Burdett Motorsport’s maiden Formula Renault UK Championship race victory at Silverstone International Circuit today after one of the most exciting races of the season so far. The 19-year old, who hails from Ljungskile in Sweden, qualified third on the grid for round five behind Team aka’s James Jakes (Cullingworth, West Yorkshire) and Manor Motorsport’s pole-sitter Paul Di Resta (Bathgate, West Lothian). At the start, Di Resta got away from the line well into the lead with Jakes in second place but a problem for the young Graduate Cup runner dropped him down the order on lap one leaving Storckenfeldt to assume second position with Manor’s Patrick Hogan (Whitfield, Northants) in third place. By lap three Di Resta’s lead was almost three seconds but by mid-race distance Storckenfeldt started to close in on the Scotsman. Then, on lap 11, the Swede made the decisive move to take the lead and head towards his first ever Formula Renault UK victory. Storckenfeldt crossed the line over two seconds clear of Di Resta with Fortec Motorsport’s Mike Conway (Sevenoaks, Kent) and Comtec Racing’s Westley Barber (Wimbish, Saffron Walden) an impressive third and fourth respectively, having started seventh and 10th on the grid. Patrick Hogan achieved his best ever result with fifth position ahead of Team JLR’s Stephen Simpson (Enfield, Middlesex) in sixth position. Graduate Cup leader Sean McIntosh continued his good run of form with seventh place for Team Firstair while Motaworld Racing’s Oliver Jarvis (Burwell, Cambridgeshire) rounded out the top eight. Comtec’s Susie Stoddart (Northampton), meanwhile, drove well to finish 11th having started a lowly 21st on the grid. Mike Conway retains the championship lead ahead of this afternoon’s sixth round with 145 points. Speaking on his debut win, an ecstatic Storckenfeldt said: “This result is fantastic. The team did a superb job. It was easier because I had new tyres but it was difficult at the beginning as it was very slippery - then the conditions got better and my tyres started to perform very well. I thought I’d be able to catch Paul and thankfully I did. I’m so happy to win for me and the team.” Di Resta said: “I wasn’t as happy in these conditions as I was yesterday in the wet but it’s still a good result. To finish on the podium again is great for me and the team and being on the front row for the next race will hopefully mean we can fight for the win again.” Mike Conway commented: “I knew it would be difficult starting from seventh on the grid so I just had to try and get some good points, which we achieved. Third place is very good and my aim was to finish on the podium so I’m happy.” Mark Burdett, meanwhile, was over the moon to have seen his young Swedish charge secure the Skegness-based team’s first ever Formula Renault UK race win. He commented: “I’m really pleased as the team has worked so hard for this, especially when you consider where we came from last year. “The whole team is working so hard and it’s just so nice to get this result and to prove to everybody we can do the job. We knew we were quick on the test day and have felt we’re there or thereabouts - but we didn’t expect to win. This gives the team more incentive to go on and get more good results.”

Race 2

Fortec Motorsport’s Mike Conway (Sevenoaks, Kent) was gifted victory in round six of the Formula Renault UK Championship at Silverstone International Circuit on Sunday following a collision involving Comtec Racing’s Westley Barber (Wimbish, Saffron Walden) and Manor Motortsport’s Paul Di Resta (Bathgate, West Lothian). At the start of the 13-lap race, Di Resta made a fantastic getaway from second on the grid to pass pole-sitter Conway on the run to Copse Corner. Barber, meanwhile, maintained his third position ahead Team JLR’s Stephen Simpson (Enfield, Middlesex) in fourth. On lap six, with Di Resta looking comfortable at the front, Barber closed on Conway at Abbey Corner and made a brave overtaking move on the Fortec driver before beginning to chase down the race leader. Lap nine, however, would be the turning point of the race when Barber tried to replicate the Conway pass from six laps previously on Di Resta. This time, though, the move was to prove over-ambitious and the Comtec driver ploughed into his attempted target, eliminating both cars from the race. This left Conway to take the win by 0.845 seconds from a delighted Stephen Simpson in second and an equally happy Patrick Hogan (Whitfield, Northants) in third - both the Team JLR driver and Manor Motorsport ace enjoying their respective best ever performances in the category. Fortec’s Stuart Hall (Halstead, Essex) also had a great run to finish in fourth position ahead of Motaworld Racing’s Joey Foster (Truro, Cornwall) in fifth and Team Firstair’s Sean McIntosh in sixth place - the Canadian’s result cementing his lead at the head of the Graduate Cup standings. Team JVA’s Sean Edwards (Henley-on-Thames), meanwhile, drove well to finish in 11th position, having qualified 20th on the grid. Speaking on his somewhat unexpected win, Conway said: “I could see Westley attempt to pass Paul and realised there was going to be a collision which then gave me the opportunity to go for the win. I didn’t really expect this result after the first few laps, and then when Barber passed me for second place too, but I’m very happy it all worked out for us in the end.” Stephen Simpson, commenting on his debut Formula Renault UK podium, said: “I’m so pleased to be on the podium and my team has done a superb job for me with the car since the last race at Brands Hatch so all the hard work has paid off. I knew I liked the circuit, having raced at Silverstone before, and I was quietly confident about our chances this weekend. This is a huge confidence boost ahead of the next round at Oulton Park.” Patrick Hogan, who also made his first ever appearance on the podium, commented: “I made a great start and passed one or two cars on the straight and then made another couple of places at Copse Corner. Having started ninth on the grid, to finish in third position is fantastic and was a very nice surprise. There was a lot of action in the race today and you certainly can’t predict what’s going to happen. I’m delighted with my first podium though.”

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