Team Firstair will return to the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship in 2006 under the new name of Position 1 Racing, reversing the decision of its Team Principle Ian Barnwell to quit the series following the 2005 Championship. Richard Keen (Amersham, Bucks) will also return to drive for the team for a second year.
After finishing fourth in the 2005 Entrants’ standings with five race wins, Barnwell announced his intention to withdraw Team Firstair from the championship. This was due to an increased workload for his Position 1 logistics company, which transports cars to A1 Grand Prix meetings.
But after re-considering his options during the winter, Barnwell now admits he made the wrong choice, saying: “I’ve been in motor racing in some form since I left school and been running a team for nearly 10 years. I still really enjoy it and wanted to come back and my work commitments have allowed me a bit more time to dedicate to the championship.
“Formula Renault always has close, exciting racing and, in my view, is the best series of its kind so I’m very pleased to be returning in 2006. We won the Graduate Cup and came close to winning the main championship last season so we’re in a strong position to have a crack at them both again this year.”
The team has three FR2.0 cars to run in the championship and is close to signing two drivers to partner Richard Keen in his second season with the team. Keen won the Graduate Cup, a competition for first year drivers that runs concurrently with the main championship, in 2005 and now has his sights set on the overall title.
“I missed a few rounds last year because of starting the season in Formula BMW but was able to be quick as soon as I joined,” said Keen. “I had quite a bit to learn in terms of the handling of the car, but I think I’ve got enough experience now to be fighting for the championship.”
The 17-year-old went on: “I’ve got a good relationship with the team and know them all really well. They were definitely my first option for this season and I’m delighted they are carrying on. We’ve been testing and it’s been good to settle back in with the guys because I haven’t seen them for a few months. But the pace was good and I’m confident for this season.”
Keen’s best race results last season were three sixth-places, the first coming at Oulton Park in round eight, and a brace of sixth-places at Donington Park in rounds 15 and 16. He competed in the Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with Manor Motorsport, finishing seventh despite only entering three rounds, and reaching the third step of the podium at Croft in round three.
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