Protyre Formula Renault Championship team SWB Motorsport will expand to three cars for the next event of the season at Donington Park, over the weekend 31st May/1st June, after signing a deal with talented 16-year-old karting graduate Samuel Oram-Jones.
Oram-Jones, from Milton Keynes, will make his car racing debut in the ultra-competitive series off the back of a stellar career in karts, in which he progressed from Rotax Mini Max to the CIK-FIA Under 18 World Championship, the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA European KF3 Championship.
He will team-up at Daventry-based SWB with 19-year-old second year racer Atte Lehtonen, who was a top 10 regular during the season-opening event at Rockingham, and 17-year-old Jersey rookie Jack Butel. Backing for Oram-Jones’ debut will come from E&S Consultants Ltd.
Awarded a sports scholarship to Berry Lawn School in Milton Keynes, which is now known as The Webber Independent School, aside from his karting achievements Oram-Jones is also the proud owner of a Gold Blue Peter badge from the legendary BBC television programme!
His first test with SWB Motorsport came at Mallory Park recently and after reporting good progress, Oram-Jones has since been sharpening his skills by utilising the squad’s simulator ahead of his car racing bow at Donington’s fast and flowing National Circuit just over a week from now.
“I’m extremely pleased to get this chance, SWB Motorsport is a well-respected team”, said Oram-Jones, “Simon [Baldry – team principal] works very well with the drivers and the mechanics all take a real pride in what they do. The test at Mallory Park was very successful and we were a lot faster than we expected considering it was very cold and we were using old tyres.
“My first race is very important, although we have to be realistic. We’d like to aim to be mid-pack or in the pack fighting for position as opposed to being at the back and not in the mix at all. I’ll be happy to get any points of significance at all in the first few races. That would be extremely good.”
For SWB Motorsport the expansion marks an important step forward for the squad in Protyre Formula Renault, having plotted a three-car entry back in January, and team boss Simon Baldry has high hopes for Oram-Jones’ race debut at Donington.
“We’re very pleased to add Sam to the team, he has a super-professional approach and a fantastic attitude”, said Baldry, “He’s been in our sim for the last few days learning the track, and will be back out at Mallory Park next Wednesday before Donington on the Thursday of the race meeting.
“His karting career will stand him in good stead, however, he has a lot of catching up to do with the other drivers who have had a full winter of testing and the first race meeting to hone the necessary skills. I’m sure he will rise to the challenge!”
Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault is additionally supported by Michelin.
