BMW & FPA RACER EDWARDS TO MAKE FORMULA RENAULT DEBUT AT DONINGTON

Manor Motorsport has announced 20-year old Sam Edwards (Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire) will make his Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin race debut during the final two rounds of the season, as a replacement for Team McLaren Mercedes Formula One-backed driver Cheng Congfu (Cottingham, Hull).

Edwards, who has been competing in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship and the Formula BMW UK Championship this year, is looking forward to his maiden competitive outing in a Formula Renault car at Donington Park, Leicestershire, on 25th/26th September.

Speaking ahead of his debut, Edwards commented: “I’m looking forward to racing with Manor at Donington, I know the circuit well and I’m certainly going to be with one of the very best teams out there – I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’d like to continue in Formula Renault UK if I can. There’s an opportunity for me to go and race in the American winter series so I may do that and then, hopefully, return to the UK for the full Formula Renault series next year.

“I tested with Manor about a year ago and it went very well. I managed to match Lewis Hamilton’s time then so, hopefully, even though it’s been a while since I’ve been in the car, I’ll be fairly competitive.”

After contesting the 2003 Formula Palmer Audi Championship, Edwards went on to compete in the FPA Autumn Trophy where he finished runner-up. This year he ended the FPA season eighth in the driver standings, taking a maiden race victory at Spa-Francorchamps, while also contesting the Formula BMW UK Championship.

Manor Motorsport team boss Tony Shaw added: “We were very happy with Sam’s progress when he tested with us last year and after a bit of an unfortunate time in the BMW series we’re hoping he’ll be able to show what he’s made of in Formula Renault UK.

“It’s important for us as a team to have all four cars on the grid and so we’re delighted we’ve been able to agree a deal with Sam for the Donington races in place of Franky (Cheng Congfu). We’re looking forward to the final meeting of the season and I’m confident our drivers will help the team finish the year on a high.”

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Renault UK Motorsport website www.renaultsport.co.uk