Hillspeed has finalised its driver line-up for the 2005 Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin after confirming Jamie Morrow (Henley-on-Thames) will partner Devon teenager Josh Weber (Tiverton) during the upcoming season.
Richard Ollerenshaw, team boss of the Hathersage outfit, is delighted to have sealed a deal with former Formula ZIP and Formula Ford 1600 competitor Morrow and expects the mixture of experience and youth between his two drivers to be a winning combination.
Commenting on the announcement, Ollerenshaw said: “Jamie and Josh are both capable of running in the top 10. They are sensible thinking drivers, very important in such a competitive championship, and they know races are not won and lost at the first corner.
“It is great for a young driver like Josh to have Jamie as a team-mate because of his professional experience off the track. The 18 months experience Josh has in Formula Renault UK will certainly benefit Jamie in return and from testing in Spain it was obvious they’re a good combination. I think they’ll work together closely and we’ll see the benefits.”
Morrow did contest a handful of Formula Renault UK races with Jensen Motorsport in 2003 but, hampered by budget restrictions, the 23-year old was unable to fund a full season in the country’s premier junior slicks-and-wings category.
In addition to his sporadic Formula Renault appearances, Morrow has competed in the Formula ZIP Championship and featured strongly in the Star of the Midlands Formula Ford 1600 series. Last year, again suffering through lack of finance, Morrow opted to remain sharp in the cockpit of a racing car by contesting FF1600 races at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.
Speaking on his return to Formula Renault UK, Morrow said: “I like the kind of set-up Hillspeed has. When I first met Richard (Ollerenshaw) he instantly came across as meticulous and very professional, he knows what he wants to achieve with the team and is pushing hard to realise those goals.
“I’m looking forward to settling in with the team and working with Josh (Weber) who I tested alongside in Spain. I will definitely be looking to finish in the top 10 in the championship and hope to be visiting the podium by the end of the year.”
Morrow and Weber will now continue private testing before official Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin pre-season testing commences in March. Hillspeed is also on the lookout for prospective drivers for the new Formula Renault BARC Championship – for more information contact Richard Ollerenshaw on 07966 650400.
For all the latest Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin news visit the official Renault Sport UK website www.renaultsport.co.uk built by Racecar
