Oliver Jarvis can finally breath a sigh of relief after securing the 2005 Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin title by finishing third in Sunday’s race at Brands Hatch.
In the closet fight in the championship’s 15-year history, Jarvis staved off challenges from Sean McIntosh (Vancouver, Canada) and James Jakes (Leeds) right up until today’s final race.
“I’m relieved, excited – just so happy,” said the 21-year-old from Burwell, Cambs, whose team Manor Motorsport also secured the Entrants Championship. “I’ve worked so hard for this and the team has been the most focused and determined and that’s why we’ve won.”
Jarvis paid tribute to his family’s support saying they have been working tirelessly behind the scenes. “It was worth it,” said Jarvis’ dad Carl. “We’ve been racing ever since Oli was eight and there have been ups and downs but with Manor this year he got on really well. Formula Renault UK this season has been a very strong championship. At the start there were 10 drivers that could have won so I’m just so proud of Oli.”
Manor Motorsport team manager Tony Shaw says Oli, who maintained his championship lead all year, winning five races, out-classed the rest. “We’ve come out on top with who I believe to be the best of the bunch,” he said. “He’s driven intelligently and never lost his cool on the track. He’s been very consistent for us and when the pressure was on he has responded.”
If McIntosh had scored maximum points in today’s race he still could have won the championship but Sebastian Hohenthal (Mora, Sweden) made sure there was no chance of that. He took the lead from pole-sitter McIntosh off the startline and streaked off into the distance to win his first 2005 race. “It’s so hard in this championship and I’m still learning so much,” said the 20-year-old Fortec Motorsport driver, who also set fastest lap. “If you are just a tenth of second off the pace in qualifying you’re miles behind because everyone’s doing such a fantastic job. Luckily everything went good this weekend.”
McIntosh, who also drives for Team Canada in the all-new A1 Grand Prix series, said Formula Renault UK has been a superb training ground for him. “It’s given me a good opportunity to show what I can do,” said the 20-year-old Team Firstair driver. “I’ve proved I can win races and at the end of the day I'm vice champion and in this field that’s a real achievement.”
Jakes’ hopes of title glory ended yesterday when he stalled on the grid whilst on pole. “I always look forward,” said the 18-year-old Team AKA driver, who finished fourth in today’s race and third in the championship. “I’ve done a good job this year. I’m one of the youngest drivers on the grid with the least experience so this is a great achievement for me. I’m disappointed that I haven’t managed to get my first win but these things don’t make me feel bad – just hungry for more.”
Richard Keen won the concurrent Graduate Cup, for less experienced drivers, with Team Firstair. “I can come home now and say I’ve won something,” said the 19-year-old. “I achieved what I needed to achieve and now I can go into 2006 in a positive frame of mind to fight for the overall championship.”
Team Firstair Boss Ian Barnwell said it was a day of mixed fortunes. “Everybody tried hard and I’m disappointed for Sean,” he said. “If he’d had a bit of luck we’d have won both championships but to win the Graduate Cup for the second year running is quite an achievement for a two-year-old team.”
Provisional race result:1. S. Hohenthal; 2. S. McIntosh; 3. O. Jarvis; 4. J. Jakes; 5. S. Simpson; 6. Y. Buurman; 7. J. Sutton; 8. A. Storckenfeldt; 9. C. Cong Fu; 10. J. D’Agostino
For all the latest Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin news visit the official Renault Sport UK website www.renaultsport.co.uk - designed and built by Racecar.
