Paul Di Resta (Bathgate, West Lothian) was delighted to claim his fourth victory of the Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin season at Donington Park yesterday afternoon, signing off an impressive debut year in style with a dominant victory during the final race of the year.
The Manor Motorsport ace, who has been in tremendous form during the second half of the season, led from lights to flag during round 20 to claim an excellent victory and net a major psychological boost as he looks forward to a possible graduation to Formula 3 in 2005.
After seeing his hopes of taking the Vice-Champion’s position disintegrate during round 19 following Westley Barber’s (Wimbish, Saffron Walden) victory, Di Resta wasn’t demoralized and focused on nothing less than the win in the last race of the year, which he achieved from NGK Laser Platinum Pole Position.
Di Resta commented: “To get the victory this afternoon is awesome. We did struggle with the car in round 19 but we all put our heads down and got things sorted for this race. Over a race distance I’d say this is the best the car has felt all year. All you ever want to do is win races, no matter what the gap, and we managed to do this today by a big margin.
“It was a bit unfortunate the Safety Car came out as I had to build my lead all over again but it was quite easy after a few laps as I managed to pull away. I’m delighted to win and I’m looking forward to some Formula 3 tests next month before we decide what to do in 2005.”
At the start, the Scotsman got away well and into a comfortable lead while behind him, Mark Burdett Motorsport’s Alex Storckenfeldt began to come under pressure from Fortec Motorsport’s Stuart Hall (Halstead, Essex) for second position.
On lap four, however, the Clio Renaultsport V6 255 Safety Car appeared on circuit as marshals attempted to recover the stricken car of Team JVA’s Pippa Mann (Saxmundham, Suffolk). The re-start came on lap 10 with Di Resta leading and new Vice-Champion Barber up to 12th position having started a lowly 19th on the grid after a dreadful qualifying session.
On Lap 13, Hall managed to take second position away from Storckenfeldt with an excellent move at Redgate before things got worse for the Swede three corners later when Team Firstair’s ‘Graduate Cup’ winner Sean McIntosh, who qualified seventh, moved up into third position with a good pass at the Old Hairpin.
With the race extended by three laps due to the Safety Car period, Di Resta took the chequered flag on lap 19 by five seconds with Hall in second position and McIntosh, securing a Donington Park double-podium, in third place.
Motaworld Racing’s Brazilian star Gustavo Sondermann (Rochester, Kent) was fourth with Storckenfeldt pushed back to fifth place, the Swede having looked set for a podium earlier in the race, and Fortec’s Charles Hollings (Norwood, West Yorkshire) in sixth position.
Team JLR’s Stefan Soderberg enjoyed another good run in seventh place, Team aka’s Peruvian driver Juan Manuel Polar finished in eighth position and a hard-charging Westley Barber managed to finish the race a highly creditable ninth, two 10ths of a second ahead of Motaworld’s Oliver Jarvis (Burwell, Cambridegshire).
Special mention must also go to Team aka’s James Jakes (Cullingworth, West Yorkshire) who finished a superb 12th during the final round, having qualified only 21st. The 17-year old has shown some superb performances this year and has enjoyed a solid Formula Renault UK debut season.
Second place finisher Stuart Hall commented: “Coming into this race I knew we’d be quick as the earlier was blighted because we had a few problems with the set-up of the car – I knew we’d made the right changes for this one though. I managed to pass Alex with quite a good move into the first corner and then I was able to pull away.
“I hoped to chase Paul down but he was just too far up the road. It’s great to end the season with another podium and I’m really fired up now for the Winter Championship which we’ll hopefully contest ahead of a major crack at the full championship next year.”
Speaking on his second podium of the weekend, Sean McIntosh said: “It’s great to end the season with two podiums and I’m delighted to have won the ‘Graduate Cup’ which was always the aim throughout the year.
“This was quite a good race and I never really expected a podium after qualifying in seventh position so it was a nice surprise to have got such a good start and to have made in-roads on the guys at the front. We’re looking ahead to next year now as we hope to put up a big fight for full Formula Renault UK honours in 2005.”
Final Driver’s Championship Positions (provisional):
1st Mike Conway, 518pts; 2nd Westley Barber, 426pts; 3rd Paul Di Resta, 415pts;
4th Alex Storckenfeldt, 286pts; 5th Susie Stoddart, 284pts; 6th Sean McIntosh, 268pts
Final Graduate Cup Positions (provisional):
1st Sean McIntosh, 213pts; 2nd James Jakes, 139pts; 3rd Josh Weber, 81pts;
4th Craig Dolby, 78pts; 5th Rodolfo Gonzalez, 69pts; 6th Sean Edwards, 57pts
Final Entrant’s Championship Positions (provisional):
1st Fortec Motorsport, 924pts; 2nd Comtec Racing, 731pts; 3rd Manor Motorsport, 649pts
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
