Atech Reid GP secured double podium glory at Thruxton today, with Tio Ellinas notching up a sixth consecutive top three finish in the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship and Oscar King taking third in the Graduate Cup. Dan Wells had a steady run on his first race weekend for the Cardiff-based team, posting consistent lap times just shy of the leaders’ pace, to take eighth.
Ellinas made a good start at the lights to hold position into the first corner and some quick thinking by the Cypriot allowed him to avoid a three-car collision at the Complex to move up to fifth. Thereafter he chased down and passed three cars to move into second on lap six, which he held to the flag.
Meanwhile King had his best drive of the year, after a strong pace in second qualifying yesterday. The young Briton made a great start and also managed to avoid the first lap melee to cross the line sixth on the opening lap. A superb move on Jack Hawksworth put him fifth, but as he entered the chicane he was bundled off line with an excursion over the kerbs, which damaged the rear floor on his car, unsettling the balance for the remaining laps.
Fellow Briton Wells was unable to repeat his superb start of Saturday’s race, but still held position off the line. A determined effort to pass two cars at the Complex was ended when he was forced into the gravel, and the Briton was later embroiled in a five-car battle, but running out of laps and crossing the line eighth.
Tio Ellinas: “I’m very happy to have got second, after our qualifying problems I certainly didn’t expect to win but second is good for the championship. I didn’t make the best of starts but managed to avoid the collision on lap one to gain two places. Then I just did my best to try and close down the gap, passing Oliver Rowland for third and then Jordan King when he outbraked himself to move into second. I’m pleased to be leading the championship and very much looking forward to Oulton Park.”
King: “Overall I’m pretty happy really, I had a good start and things were going really well. I was holding my own and got up to fifth place battling with Gilbert and Rowland. We came into the chicane on lap seven and I was bundled over the kerbs, which damaged the rear floor. The car was very unpredictable after that with a lot of oversteer. Otherwise though, I was pleased with my start and my pace up to that point so I’m looking forward to the next rounds.”
Dan Wells: “It was quite a good day, not such a good start as yesterday but I managed to avoid the collision at the Complex on lap one. I was well positioned to pass Mitch Gilbert and Oliver Millroy but was forced into the gravel so lost the chance to take those places. After that it was pretty close, running in a five-car train, but I simply ran out of laps. I learnt from yesterday’s race how to change my driving style with the tyre degradation so as not to lose too much time and was running consistently just off the leaders’ pace. All round a pretty good debut weekend with Atech Reid and I’m pleased with the whole team.”
Team Principal David Hayle: “I’m very happy with the results today. Tio drove exceptionally well to take second from seventh on the grid to maintain his championship lead. Oscar drove very well to get up to fifth, his pace in yesterday’s second qualifying showed he’d be a front runner, so it’s disappointing for him not to get the result he deserved. While Dan drove another sensible race, in only his first weekend with us, with lots to learn in very little time.”
2011 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship points after 6 rounds:
1. Tio Ellinas 1712. Alex Lynn 1663. Jack Hawksworth 1294. Ollie Millroy 1285. Josh Hill 986. Oliver Rowland 957. Jordan King 828. Oscar King 759. Mitch Gilbert 7210.Alice Powell 63
The next double-header rounds of the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship take place at Oulton Park over the weekend of 4/5 June, 2011.
