Sportscar debut beckons for Renault R.S.01 racer
Scot Lewis Williamson will make his FIA World Endurance Championship debut with Strakka Racing at the Nürburgring later this month. Williamson, currently lying second in the Renault R.S.01 championship with the Silverstone-based team, will partner WEC regulars Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis in his first-ever sportscar race.
“Through our race and coaching programmes, Strakka has always looked to support young drivers, nurturing talent and where possible providing chances,” says team founder Nick Leventis. “At Nürburgring we are underlining that commitment by giving Lewis a shot in a full WEC weekend. I’d like to thank Danny Watts, who will remain part of Strakka this season, for all his efforts in the car so far.”
Williamson, 26, and graded ‘Silver’ by the FIA, had his first taste of Strakka’s LMP2 Gibson 015S at last year’s Bahrain Rookie Test before engine issues curtailed the day’s running. Williamson has also attended the first three rounds of the 2016 World Endurance Championship, learning procedures of the team. “No doubt, this is an immense opportunity for me,” says Williamson. “Strakka has given me a chance very few drivers get and I intend to make the very most of it. I’ve done well in the past at the Nürburgring; picking up a second in GP3 and the Gibson was the fastest car on last year’s test day so I reckon we should in the mix. The weather always plays its part at the Nürburgring and whilst it was hot last year, I know it could also be foggy and raining. You just don’t know.”
“We are in the process of evaluating all our options for 2017; our race programme, drivers, the lot,” adds team principal Dan Walmsley. “We felt we could use this weekend to put Lewis in a race weekend and gauge his performance against one of the most competitive LMP2 fields we have witnessed in sportscar racing in recent times. His pace in the R.S.01, his approach in the simulator and his efforts at the factory are worthy of an outing in WEC and we want to see how he performs.”
The Nürburgring race will take place on 24thJuly. Strakka Racing is currently sixth in the standings of the LMP2 category after finishing fourth out of 23 starters at Le Mans 24 Hours.
