Racing Steps Foundation-backed driver Ben Barnicoat, the 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Autumn Cup Champion, is to make a surprise return to the category for the first race meeting of the new season as preparation for his maiden year in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.
Tthe 18-year-old from Chesterfield – who is part of the McLaren-Mercedes F1 Team’s Driver Development Programme – will contest the opening three races of the 2014 Protyre Formula Renault campaign with Fortec Motorsport.
Adding a great deal of spice to the championship curtain-raiser on 5th/6th April at Rockingham in Northamptonshire, the venue for his memorable Autumn Cup title triumph last November on his car racing debut with Fortec, Barnicoat will undoubtedly be a driver to beat.
“The confirmation of Ben returning to Protyre Formula Renault for the first three races of the season is absolutely fantastic news, we’re thrilled he’s going to be back in the championship”, said category promoter Simon North, “As our reigning Autumn Cup Champion, Ben is sure to be challenging for wins at Rockingham and it’s going to add another intriguing element to the opening weekend.
“Fortec and the Racing Steps Foundation have long supported Formula Renault in Britain and it’s fantastic for Protyre Formula Renault to have that association. Considering how impressive Ben was on his debut with us last year, we’re looking forward to seeing what he can achieve on his return.”
Recently confirmed as part of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) SuperStars programme, added to his existing position in the MSA Academy, Barnicoat is rapidly establishing as strong a reputation in cars as he did in karting.
Securing a glittering array of championship trophies during his kart career, the highly rated Briton enjoyed success at every level with title glory in the Super 1 British KF2 Karting Championship and CIK-FIA European KF2 Karting Championship in 2012 being the main highlight.
After becoming Vice-Champion of the WSK Masters KF Karting Series last year, Barnicoat graduated into cars in the Protyre Formula Renault Autumn Cup. Qualifying on pole position for all three races, he won two and was runner-up in the other to seal a dominant championship victory.
Commenting on Barnicoat’s involvement in the opening three races of the 2014 season, Fortec team manager Dominic Stott said: “It’s great to have Ben in the car for the first round at Rockingham after his performances in the Autumn Cup, he’ll be the driver everyone wants to beat and we will be looking to carry on from where we finished 2013.
“With Ben and Alex [Gill – Fortec’s first 2014 Protyre Formula Renault signing] in the team we have, arguably, two of the best up and coming British drivers out there and it will definitely be exciting to see them racing each other.”
Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault is additionally supported by Michelin.
Official website: www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/ built by Racecar
