Atech Reid GP took two podium finishes in the opening rounds of the 2011 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday, with Cypriot Tio Ellinas claiming third on his Formula Renault debut this morning and second in race two. His young British team-mate Oscar King also put in an impressive performance, finishing eighth and 11th in the two races, and second of the graduate cup runners this afternoon.
Tio lined up third on the grid for the day’s opening round and made a good start to hold position for the first of 24 laps around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The 19 year-old made a move to pass for second place early on but was blocked and had to fall back into the final podium slot, which he held to the flag.
King made a reasonable start from the sixth row to hold position and managed to avoid a spinning car ahead, although it dropped him down slightly. He recovered to finish 11th.
In race two Tio started from the front row and held off a challenge from the third placed driver to enter Paddock Hill Bend in second place. At the front the leader gradually pulled away but over the closing laps Ellinas had closed down the gap to just four tenths of a second on the final lap. But, despite his best efforts, Ellinas was unable to make a move for victory, crossing the line just two car lengths behind the winner, to move into second place in the championship.
For King, his second race also proved his most successful, the youngster making a great start to move up to ninth on the opening lap and into eighth place by lap 19 which he held to the finish. His results from the two races put him third of the graduate cup runners.
Tio Ellinas: “It was a good race weekend for me and the whole team. In race one I made a good start and tried to take second place but Stevens closed the door into turn one. I sat behind him then for the whole race, hoping he’d make a mistake as it’s very hard to overtake here, but he didn’t! In race two I got another good start to stay second. In the closing laps, I gradually started reeling in the leader and got so close on the last few laps, but I just ran out of time – another two laps and I think I could have got him.”
Oscar King: “This weekend has been a massive learning curve for me and I think it ended on a really positive note. In the first race I made a pretty bad start, as far as I’m concerned, and someone spun in front of me, which dropped me back. After that it was quite a quiet race, pretty lonely! Race two was better, again the car was great, pretty consistent throughout. Really looking forward to Donington now, it’s a circuit I’m familiar with although I’ve only ever watched races there, but driving home from here today, I’ll have a smile on my face.”
Team Principal Anthony Reid: “That was a good day at the office! After the strong performance in pre-season testing by Tio, we expected that kind of result from him, but still it’s nice to start the season with two podiums. I was also very impressed with Oscar, he drove very well all weekend, and it was a great start to his Formula Renault career. Overall it was an awesome result for the whole Atech Reid GP team.”
Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship points after 2 rounds:
1. Alex Lynn 662. Tio Ellinas 533. Will Stevens 484. Ollie Millroy 465. Jack Hawksworth 436. Josh Hill 287. Jordan King 268. Alice Powell 259. Oscar King 2410. Felix Serralles 22
The next double-header rounds of the 2011 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship take place at Donington Park over the weekend of 16/17 April, 2011. Click here for the Official Renaultsport web site - designed and built by Racecar
