Josh Webster will make his competitive debut in the national Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship during the six race 'Finals Series' which begins at Snetterton in Norfolk this weekend, 5th/6th November, having signed a deal with race-winning squad Mark Burdett Motorsport.Just a couple of weeks since the conclusion of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship, in which the 17-year-old ended the season as Vice-Champion with three victories and nine podiums in total, Josh now prepares to take on his toughest challenge yet in a current specification FR 2.0 car.Offering greater power, enhanced aerodynamics, steering-wheel mounted paddle-shift gear change and requiring an adaptation in driving style compared to the previous generation 'BARC' Formula Renault, the demands of the top tier of the renowned single-seater category will prove to be a steep learning curve for the Suffolk racer...but he's relishing the opportunity."It's fantastic to have this chance to race in the Finals Series in a UK car, I'm really happy to be back out so soon after the end of the BARC season", said Josh, "This is a perfect opportunity to learn the new car and get as much experience as possible as we prepare for next year, the aim is to do the full UK championship in 2012 if we can raise the budget so this is all about getting ready for that."It's going to be a major learning curve for me, we've only had limited testing time in the car and I've never raced on the 300 Circuit before, but we'll be giving it our all as we always do. I'm pleased to be working with Mark Burdett and his team, they've had some good success in the main championship this year and I'm sure we'll develop a good relationship."Along with his inexperience of the new FR 2.0 car and Snetterton's 2.97-mile 300 Circuit layout, the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Rising Star is also making the move into the UK category in what is destined to be the most competitive winter championship ever.
Over 30 cars are expected for the opening event in East Anglia, including a dozen or more entries from Europe, making the competition incredibly intense. The Finals Series will be contested over six races in total, four at Snetterton this coming weekend and then two more a week later on Saturday, 12th November, at Rockingham in Northamptonshire.The opening qualifying session at Snetterton will get underway at 09.25 on Saturday, 5th November, with round one scheduled to begin at 12.15 and round two following at 15.45. Second qualifying on Sunday, 6th November, will commence at 09.00 with round three timetabled to start at 11.55 and round four rounding out the weekend's action at 15.30.
Josh races in support of the charity EACH (East Anglia's Children's Hospices)
