Dutch ace Bas Lammers, the 2003 European Formula A Karting Champion, is the first confirmed driver for the 2004 Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with Michelin, having put pen to paper with leading team Manor Motorsport.
The Sheffield outfit, one of the true front-runners in Formula Renault UK for many years, has been working for some time on attempting to sign Lammers and the team is thrilled to have agreed terms with the 18-year old from Roosendaal in the Netherlands.
Speaking on the deal, Manor Motorsport team manager Tony Shaw commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Bas in the team for the Winter Championship, his signing really is a major boost for us as his record in European karting speaks for itself. We’ve been in contact with him for some time now and we’re all ecstatic this deal has come to fruition.
“It’s fantastic for Formula Renault UK, as well as ourselves, to have attracted someone of Bas’ calibre for the winter races, it really does underline the regard in which this series is held. It’ll obviously be a steep learning curve for Bas but I’m confident he’ll go very well indeed.”
After winning Dutch national karting titles in 1996 and 1998, Lammers went on to race in the Cadet class of the European Championships in 1999. A year later, he won yet another junior national title in the Netherlands before winning the Dutch Formula A Championship in 2001.
His European-level Formula A career also began in 2001 and after finishing third overall, and then fifth overall the following season, the teenage sensation won the highly prestigious European Formula A crown in 2003. He then went on to make his car racing debut the following year at Zandvoort in a Formula Renault 2000 car before competing in the Benelux Racing League in a 325hp saloon car.
Lammers himself is very much looking forward to competing in November’s Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with Michelin. He added: “This is a great opportunity for me to drive for Manor Motorsport, I’m very pleased to have the chance of joining such a professional team with an impressive motorsport history.
“We visited Manor’s workshop in August and it was very impressive to see, with a fantastic atmosphere. I can’t wait to drive my first miles for the team and I’m focused on achieving some good results during the Formula Renault UK winter series.”
The Formula Renault UK Winter Championship with Michelin takes place at Pembrey, Wales, on 6th November and Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire, on 13th November.
For all the latest Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin news visit the official Renault UK Motorsport website www.renaultsport.co.uk built by Racecar
