Fortec Motorsport’s Mike Conway (Sevenoaks, Kent) was gifted victory in round six of the Formula Renault UK Championship at Silverstone International Circuit yesterday following a collision involving Comtec Racing’s Westley Barber (Wimbish, Saffron Walden) and Manor Motortsport’s Paul Di Resta (Bathgate, West Lothian).
At the start of the 13-lap race, Di Resta made a fantastic getaway from second on the grid to pass pole-sitter Conway on the run to Copse Corner. Barber, meanwhile, maintained his third position ahead Team JLR’s Stephen Simpson (Enfield, Middlesex) in fourth.
On lap six, with Di Resta looking comfortable at the front, Barber closed on Conway at Abbey Corner and made a brave overtaking move on the Fortec driver before beginning to chase down the race leader.
Lap nine, however, would be the turning point of the race when Barber tried to replicate the Conway pass from six laps previously on Di Resta. This time, though, the move was to prove over-ambitious and the Comtec driver ploughed into his attempted target, eliminating both cars from the race.
This left Conway to take the win by 0.845 seconds from a delighted Stephen Simpson in second and an equally happy Patrick Hogan (Whitfield, Northants) in third – both the Team JLR driver and Manor Motorsport ace enjoying their respective best ever performances in the category.
Fortec’s Stuart Hall (Halstead, Essex) also had a great run to finish in fourth position ahead of Motaworld Racing’s Joey Foster (Truro, Cornwall) in fifth and Team Firstair’s Sean McIntosh in sixth place – the Canadian’s result cementing his lead at the head of the Graduate Cup standings. Team JVA’s Sean Edwards (Henley-on-Thames), meanwhile, drove well to finish in 11th position, having qualified 20th on the grid.
Speaking on his somewhat unexpected win, Conway said: “I could see Westley attempt to pass Paul and realised there was going to be a collision which then gave me the opportunity to go for the win. I didn’t really expect this result after the first few laps, and then when Barber passed me for second place too, but I’m very happy it all worked out for us in the end.”
Stephen Simpson, commenting on his debut Formula Renault UK podium, said: “I’m so pleased to be on the podium and my team has done a superb job for me with the car since the last race at Brands Hatch so all the hard work has paid off. I knew I liked the circuit, having raced at Silverstone before, and I was quietly confident about our chances this weekend. This is a huge confidence boost ahead of the next round at Oulton Park.”
Patrick Hogan, who also made his first ever appearance on the podium, commented: “I made a great start and passed one or two cars on the straight and then made another couple of places at Copse Corner. Having started ninth on the grid, to finish in third position is fantastic and was a very nice surprise. There was a lot of action in the race today and you certainly can’t predict what’s going to happen. I’m delighted with my first podium though.”
Rounds five and six of the 2004 Formula Renault UK Championship take place at Cheshire’s Oulton Park Island Circuit on 22nd/23rd May.
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