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Continued from News
Formula
Renault UK ready to go
The 2008 Formula Renault season roars into life this weekend at Brands
Hatch, and after months of preparation the CRS Formula Renault team is
raring to go.
CRS’ single seater campaign is a very important
part of its full race programme. The team has made no secret of the fact
that this is an area on which it wishes to expand in the future in order
to create a ladder programme for young drivers in single seater
categories. The Formula Renault UK Championship is one of the best
proving grounds for young drivers and launched the careers of current
FIA Formula One World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, and McLaren team-mates,
Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen. The series also benefits from
supporting the ever-popular British Touring Car Championship which
brings in big crowds of spectators on race day.
The four CRS Formula Renault drivers have all
worked hard over the winter and are looking forward to getting stuck
into the new season.
Adam Christodoulou:
“So far this year everything has gone brilliantly.
All four of us drivers have been on the pace, if not setting the pace at
most tracks, and I’ve been in the top four at each of the official
tests. I'm feeling very positive in myself and the team has gone from
strength to strength. If you think back to this time last year, Fortec
had the edge on us, but so far this year the other teams have been
playing catch up. I can’t wait for the first race of the season at
Brands Hatch. The season started there last year and I took a third and
second place in those races so I’m aiming to do the same again this
year, but maybe one step higher. Even though there are only four corners
at Brands it is definitely one of the hardest circuits to get your head
around and two-tenths can be the difference between pole position and
tenth. The testing there has been positive though as I managed fourth
fastest on old tyres and we know the new ones there are definitely an
advantage. I think my main competition will come from my cousin Riki,
Sims, Buzaid, Loane and Yamamoto, and I think Scott and Sten will start
to become a threat as we go through the season.”
Scott Jenkins:
“Pre-season testing has gone fantastically well
for me; I’ve learnt so much in such a short period of time. The level of
the driving standard is so high this year and it seems almost impossible
to be as fast as most, one of them being my team-mate Adam. I’m very
happy with the team and their dedication to get me to go faster. I’m
looking forward to the first race. It should be a great one but it is
going to be tough because Brands Hatch, although it only has four
corners, is a very technical circuit and it’s very difficult to
overtake. It’s very important to qualify well, and I will be doing my
best to do just that.”
Sten Pentus:
“Pre-season testing has gone very well for me in
many senses; I have got to know my race car better than ever before and
I am feeling a lot more confident, having made huge progress in my own
development. The testing has also given me enough time to get to know
the team and to feel comfortable there. There have been test days that
have gone really well from the beginning until the end, but also days
with errors or mistakes that have cost me a whole day of running. All of
that has made me even stronger, more confident and of course much
faster. I enjoy racing at most of the
UK tracks but Brands Hatch is definitely one of my favourites. Despite
the fact that it is remarkably short it is very technical and demands a
lot from the driver. When I drive at Brands I enjoy every curve and I am
able to improve with each lap. I am more than ready for the new season
and I have every reason to believe it will be a successful one.”
Ryuji Yamamoto:
“I had a good season last year learning the
circuits and it is good to be back racing in a British Championship with
CRS. We have had a good run in testing. I have been working hard,
getting to know the team and the car, and I am now looking forward to
the season ahead.”
CRS Team Principal, Chris
Niarchos:
“I believe we have the strongest complete driver
line-up in the pitlane. All of our initial testing has been extremely
successful and certainly the two most experienced drivers have the
ability to win the Championship and the novices will be right up there
too.”
CRS Team Director, Andrew
Kirkaldy:
“We seem to have had a very strong pre-season test
programme. It has been good to have Paul (Jackson)
and Russell (Dixon) working together and we’re very happy with the new
drivers. I think we are in a strong position to challenge for the
Championship as well as the Graduate Cup.”
The on-track action starts on Saturday 29 March
with qualifying sessions at 0925hrs and 1440hrs. The first two Formula
Renault races of the 2008 season will be held on Sunday 30 March and
1000hrs and 1540hrs.
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