NICK Wilcox (Camberley, Surrey) has been named 2005 Formula Renault BARC Champion after a solid drive earned him 22 points at this weekend’s Snetterton double header.
The E-TEK Motorsport driver needed 19 points in the FR2000 Class to put him beyond the reach of second-place Matt Russell (Harlesden, London) and he responded by maintaining his 100% podium record with second and third place.
“We knew we only had to get a handful of points and I didn’t want to throw it all away so we backed off a bit,” said the 19-year-old. “I didn’t let the pressure get to my head. I’m normally a very emotional person but the only time I seem to be calm and with it is when I’m racing.”
Father, Roy Wilcox, says the team is now looking at what to do next season. “I’d be happy coming back here,” said the E-TEK Motorsport team owner. “Renault’s backing has really bolted the BARC series together a lot more and I think next year is going to be absolutely brilliant. There’s going to be more people and it will be even more competitive.” The team is also looking into financing a drive for Nick in either the 2006 Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin series or winter series.
The other big news of the weekend was the debut win of karting ace Alex Morgan (Bridgend, South Wales) who had only ever driven a Formula Renault car in testing three times before. The 18-year-old, who has represented Wales in international karting events, has secured funding for two seasons in the Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin as well as this year’s winter series, and has signed up to the last three races in BARC to warm up.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said the youngster, who races for Macob Motorsport. “I was a bit disappointed with qualifying. I found it difficult to find decent gaps in the pack but I still got within four tenths of the pole sitter. I lost a place on the start because of wheel spin and I just didn’t know what to do. I dropped down to fifth but then passed Wilcox on the second lap. Russell came off and Stirling got a time penalty but I didn’t know any of that so I was shocked when they singled me out to go on the podium. I still can’t believe it.”
Another first time winner was Dean Stirling (Shamley Green, Guildford) who won round 11, compensating for the disappointment of being relegated to third in Saturday’s round 10, despite crossing the line first. He was given a time penalty for being out of position on the grid.
In Sunday’s race the 18-year-old passed pole-sitter Matt Russell on the first lap and maintained his lead until the chequered flag, putting in the race’s fastest time on his last lap. “Down the straight I stayed in the slip stream,” said the Team Nasamax driver. “I tried to get through on the inside but it was a bit tight. I decided to go around the outside at the chicane and I managed to make a pass. From there I just drove as best I could. I felt kind of relaxed, I kept a clear head and kept pushing and eventually the chequered flag came.”
In the Club Class Ian Pearson (Didcot, Oxon) maintained his 100% record with two wins. “I had the FR2000 class cars in my sights,” said the 25-year-old, who was named Club Class champion at Brands Hatch last month. “It was an exciting race.”
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