Formula Renault UK Championship leader Mike Conway (Sevenoaks, Kent) increased the gap at the top of the standings after taking his second race win of the weekend at Thruxton in Hampshire this afternoon.
Comtec Racing’s Westley Barber (Wimbish, Saffron Walden) got a better start than Conway, although the Fortec driver did manage to maintain the lead as the cars headed into the complex for the first time. Barber, however, got a little too close for comfort and caught the rear of Conway’s car forcing the Comtec ace to drop down the order and, in turn, giving Team JVA’s John Byrne (Magham Down, East Sussex) an opportunity to take the lead.
Further behind, an incident involving Manor Motorsport team-mates Cheng Congfu (Cottingham, Hull), Patrick Hogan (Whitfield, Northants) and Paul Di Resta (Bathgate, West Lothian) meant the Clio Renaultsport V6 255 Safety Car was deployed ready for the start of lap two. At the re-start on lap five, Byrne held the lead from Conway with Motaworld’s David Epton (Fleet, Hampshire) in third position.
Epton, however, went off the circuit half-way round the lap meaning team-mate Joey Foster (Truro, Cornwall) now found himself in third place having started eighth on the grid. At the front Conway and Byrne continued to fight tooth and nail with the Fortec driver putting the less experienced Team JVA man under intense pressure.
Nearing the end of lap seven, as the cars headed into the chicane, Conway produced an excellent move to snatch the lead from Byrne and held the position to the chequered flag – eventually winning by over five and a half seconds. Byrne took his maiden Formula Renault UK podium finish with an excellent second place and Foster was delighted to finish third. Mark Burdett Motorsport’s Alex Storckenfeldt crossed the line in fourth, Eurotek Motorsport’s Ruben Carrapatoso finished fifth and Fortec’s Stuart Hall (Halstead, Essex) was an excellent sixth.
Commenting on his double success, and another Fastest Lap into the bargain, Conway said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend and I’m very pleased to get maximum points again. This is the way we hoped we’d start the season so the whole team is very happy. At the start when I got hit from behind it pushed me wide but I managed to hold onto second place and bided my time before passing John for the lead.”
For Byrne his maiden podium was a bittersweet experience: “I’m absolutely delighted with the result, to get my first podium in the first race with a new team is absolutely brilliant. It was a big struggle as we had too much camber on the car and it got very difficult to try and keep Conway behind. After he passed me it was a case of trying to keep the car on the track. I’m getting quicker and quicker and learning more all the time so I can’t wait until the next races at Brands Hatch in two weeks.”
Foster, meanwhile, added: “To finish on the podium is more than I expected having started eighth on the grid so I’m pleased to have some more good points for the championship. There was quite a bit of mayhem on the opening lap but I managed to get third position at the end of it all which is great. It’s been a very good weekend.”
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