at season opener

Ollie Hancock took a dominant race 2 victory in the Formula Renault BARC season opener at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday. The 21-year old Hampshire racer romped to a win in the second race of the double-header meeting, and picked up additional points for fastest lap and a race 1 pole position.

Race 1

Numerous stoppages reduced race 1 to just four laps of the Indy Circuit and also cost Hancock a shot at victory. Despite starting from pole, three restarts caused by red flag incidents caused the clutch of Ollie’s Apotex Scorpio Motorsport–run machine. As a result he crawled away from the line when the race finally got underway and his misfortune intensified on lap 1 when he was tapped into a spin at Druids. Rejoining at the tail of the field, he only had time to fight back to 16th in the shortened race.

Race 2

Race 2 was again shortened by red flags, but this time Hancock romped to a trouble-free win. Starting second, Ollie took the lead around the outside of Graham Hill Bend on lap 1 and proceeded to pull out a big advantage. Despite yet another incident forcing a restart, Hancock led the field away from the line and didn’t look like being caught as he took the chequered flag comfortably clear of his nearest rivals.

Hancock said: “The amount of red-flags throughout the weekend was very frustrating and as a result we suffered some misfortune in race 1 which has cost us points. However I think race 2 was a far better reflection of our true potential and to start the season with a win is extremely good news.”

Despite missing out on the points in race 1, Ollie still lies third in the championship standings, just four points behind early leader Menasheh Idafar.