For Steele At Season Opener

Russell Racing’s Aaron Steele secured two well deserved top five points finishes at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit yesterday, Easter Monday, 24th March, during the curtain-raiser to the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship.With the first two races of the year now completed, the 19-year-old from Rochester in Kent is tied on 12 points in joint-sixth place in the FR2000 Class driver standings – a good return from a chaotic weekend affected by snow and several race stoppages.Rookie team-mate Don De Graaff, meanwhile, did well on a debut which most certainly couldn’t have thrown more at him in consideration of the conditions. Rounds one and two offered a baptism of fire for the 17-year-old but a best result of 12th position in class during the opening race provided a great fillip for both driver and team.“We’re very pleased with the way the weekend has gone overall”, commented Russell Racing’s Matt Russell, “Two top five results for Aaron show a good return, especially when you consider the issues with the weather and all of the stoppages. He performed well and his presence in the team is a major plus for us.“In terms of the weather and the incidents, it couldn’t have been a trickier debut for Don to deal with but he did a fantastic job and we’re really pleased with his progress. To finish both races is a good start to the year for him and with more time in the car we’re confident he can develop very quickly.”While round one pole-sitter Nathan Coulter was unable to take part in the race due to being a reserve entry, Steele lined up in third position on the grid – having qualified fourth – while De Graaff would start in 17th position.Continual snowfall ensured the drivers would need to utilise wet weather tyres and the slippery track surface made for a difficult beginning to the race for a number of competitors. Both Russell Racing drivers encountered problems on the opening lap but when the red flags were shown on lap three, a second opportunity would await them.At the re-start, following a lengthy delay and with snow worsening, Steele lined up in 12th position and De Graaff in 22nd as per their placings prior to the stoppage. Experienced single-seater runner Steele made a lightning start this time around, scorching into the top five while De Graaff also did a great job to climb into 17th position.Unfortunately, a second incident brought out more red flags at the start of lap six and so Steele’s close pursuit of fourth-placed Lee Dwyer was nullified. He was credited with fifth place in the final classification and De Graaff was 15th overall but 12th in class.Round two took place on a drying track and at the start Steele launched himself from the grid well and rapidly made his way into the top 10 from 13th position. De Graaff, starting 19th, didn’t have the best of opening laps and as the race entered the second tour he had slipped to 25th place behind a handful of Club Class cars.Beginning to slice his way by the older Formula Renaults, De Graaff’s progress was halted when yet another race stoppage affected proceedings on lap four due to a car stranded in the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend. Prior to the red flags, Steele was in eighth and his Russell Racing team-mate 22nd.When the race got underway again, Steele made a rapid start and climbed into fifth position but after just six laps of action another stoppage was ordered by the Clerk of the Course when a car ended up stranded on circuit. The declared result classified Steele in an impressive fifth position and De Graaff 21st overall, 20th in the FR2000 Class.There is now a gap of four weeks before the third and fourth rounds of the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship, on 19th/20th April, which will take place at Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit in Northamptonshire.