Silverstone-based team Strakka Racing is looking forward to a good showing at its home circuit this weekend. Drivers Tio Ellinas and Gustav Malja look to capitalise on an opportunity to score a good result to kick off the second half of the Formula Renault 3.5 season.
World Series by Renault is making its return to the Northampton circuit this year for the first time since 2012 - the last time a round in the UK featured on the calendar. For Strakka Racing’s drivers Silverstone is a welcome addition to the schedule, as both Malja and Ellinas have enjoyed success at the airfield circuit.
“It’s a real drivers' circuit, mainly flat but very technical,” says Ellinas, who has managed top-five finishes in six of his eight races at Silverstone. “Mastering the run through Maggots and Becketts in particular is so rewarding, and can make or break your lap.
“My experience of the circuit from my season in GP3 two years ago, and utilising the team’s sophisticated simulator should really help me get acclimatised in such a high-downforce car quickly.”
Swede Gustav Malja has only competed at the world-famous British circuit once before - last season in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC - but managed to finish fourth in his first and only start that weekend.
“For the whole team it’s a very important weekend,” he adds. “Everyone will have family and friends nearby cheering them on, so Tio (Ellinas) and I really want to reward them for their efforts. We’ve shown so far this year that we are capable of running up front, we just need to sustain the pace we know we have for a whole weekend.”
Host of the inaugural Formula One World Championship round back in 1950, Silverstone is steeped in history, and in its current form continues to be the home of the British Grand Prix, as well as the UK round of the Moto GP and FIA World Endurance Championship series. Strakka Racing is very familiar with the circuit located just down the road from its factory, having claimed multiple pole positions, won its class and scored a top-five finish there in the past with its sportscar programme.
The on-track action runs from Friday the 4th of September with Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday both starting at 12:30 local time.
