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Category: Formula Renault

Sean Walkinshaw - 2012 LiveryProtyre Formula Renault BARC Championship racer Sean Walkinshaw continued to impress during officially timed testing at Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk this week, the 18-year-old lapping the 2.97-mile track a full second faster than his previous best.

Providing the Chipping Norton driver with a massive confidence boost, his best time of the two day outing (Wednesday, 7th March, and Thursday, 8th March) came on the final morning when he posted a lap of 1m52.791 seconds (94.76mph).

Unfortunately for Sean, a relatively slow-speed excursion just before the end of the morning session on the second day resulted in significant damage to his MTech Lite car – enough to rule him out of the afternoon run, frustratingly.

Although the early conclusion to the test wasn’t what he had planned, such was the progress made in East Anglia this week, in particularly inclement conditions by and large, Sean feels increasingly confident as the opening rounds of the season – which will take place at Snetterton – edge ever closer.

“I’m ecstatic at the progress we’ve been making, I’ve improved so much in only a small amount of time since being with MTech”, said the Cheltenham College student, “The team has taught me a lot and I think my overall ability has improved a long way since last November in the Finals Series – going one second faster than I’ve ever been at Snetterton before is a huge improvement.”

The opening morning of this week’s test was an almost complete washout with Sean only venturing out momentarily in heavy, continual rain. Session two offered some improvement in the weather but it wasn’t until the afternoon before anything like a drying line began to appear, Sean posting a best time of the day of 2m08.835 seconds (82.95mph).

“The first day I only went out for two laps in the first session, it was very wet and there was a lot of aquaplaning – there was no point being out there”, added Sean, “We did get some good experience in the wet and the dry though over the two days so that’s been very useful.”

Rounds one, two and three of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship, which will be only Sean’s second full season of car racing, will take place at Snetterton on Easter weekend, 7th/8th April.

Seb Morris - Formula Renault BARCWelsh motor racing star Seb Morris, who is embarking on his maiden year of single-seater action in 2012 in the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship, has received a welcome pre-season boost after being named brand ambassador for Leeds-based manufacturer Ginetta Cars.

The 16-year-old, who won the Ginetta Junior Championship title last year and, before that, the 2010 Ginetta Junior Winter Series crown, will become one of Ginetta’s team of supported drivers for the coming motorsport season.

Following the announcement at Silverstone in Northamptonshire on Monday, 5th March, as part of the Ginetta Media Day, the Marford teenager’s FR 2.0 race car – which will be run by top team Fortec Motorsports – was unveiled with a striking orange livery, Ginetta’s corporate colour scheme.

“As the reigning Ginetta Junior Champion, I feel incredibly proud and honoured to be named a brand ambassador for Ginetta Cars”, said Seb, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Lawrence Tomlinson (Chairman of Ginetta Cars) and I’m looking forward to helping promote Ginetta in the best light possible, on and off track, through this partnership.”

Since graduating into cars from karting at the beginning of 2010, Seb has been part of the Ginetta ‘family’ and during his two years in the Ginetta Junior Championship he became widely regarded as one of British motorsport’s best young talents.

Commenting on the partnership with Seb in Formula Renault, Lawrence Tomlinson said: “Ginetta are proud to announce a continued involvement in Seb Morris’ developing career as he enters the single-seater ladder. Seb will retain a close involvement with Ginetta as a brand ambassador and this demonstrates Ginetta’s desire to support young drivers coming through the ranks and developing their individual careers.

“Ginetta wishes to be seen as an ideal first step into racing through the Ginetta Juniors, whereby drivers have the options to take either GT, touring car or single-seater careers. The involvement with Seb continues our tradition of supporting outstanding talents, such as Frank Wrathall and Adam Morgan, as well as previous single-seater involvement in Formula Palmer Audi. Seb will be involved in various PR events and support with the next generation of Ginetta Juniors, including the selection for the Ginetta Scholarship.”

Seb’s first officially timed test of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC pre-season will come during the championship’s Media Day on Tuesday, 27th March, at Silverstone National Circuit. The season itself will then begin over Easter weekend, 7th/8th April, at Snetterton in Norfolk and later in the year Seb is also set to take part in the three-event Renault GP Cup which will run alongside Formula Renault UK.

Coupled with his racing commitments, the successful teenager is into his final year of GCSE studies at The King’s School, Chester, and is also part of the MSA (Motor Sports Association) Academy.

Photo by Team SMR Limited.

Sean WalkinshawSean Walkinshaw made an encouraging start to the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship pre-season at Donington Park National Circuit on Thursday, 1st March, by posting a fastest time just half a second outside the existing lap record.

The 18-year-old Cheltenham College student, who hails from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, is heading into only his second full season of motorsport action this year having debuted as a complete car racing novice in Protyre Formula Renault BARC at the start of 2011.

Arriving at Donington for the first officially timed run of the pre-season, Sean and his MTech Lite team were significantly buoyed by the youngster’s tremendous progress. Lapping the 1.98-mile track with a best time of 1m08.335 seconds (104.26mph), he ended the outing almost a full second clear of Brazilian driver Henrique Baptista.

More notably, of course, the lap got him to within just 0.5 seconds of 2011 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion Dino Zamparelli’s lap record, set at Donington last April. In the morning session, Sean was also the quickest BARC driver with a time of 1m08.926 seconds (103.36mph).

Travelling across the East Midlands to Rockingham Motor Speedway for an unofficially timed run at the Northamptonshire venue on Friday, 2nd March, the Oxfordshire racer maintained his momentum with another impressive outing.

“It’s been a good start to the year so far”, said Sean, “Everything is going really well with the guys at MTech, it’s a great team and they’re really helping me improve. Donington was great, to get within half a second of the lap record shows the sort of improvements we’ve been making. Formula Renault BARC is a very tough championship but, if we continue like this, it should be a good season.”

After testing a Formula Ford car during a ‘sampler day’ at the tail end of 2010, following a brief and limited rookie karting campaign the same year, Sean made his car racing debut in 2011 in Protyre Formula Renault BARC and concluded the season with a best result of 13th place at Thruxton.

Going on to contest the six-round Formula Renault 2.0 UK ‘Finals Series’ in the BARC Class, he secured a quartet of fourth place results at Snetterton in Norfolk during the opening weekend before achieving his maiden car racing podium in the sixth and final round at Rockingham. In terms of the championship standings, he ended the winter series in fourth position.

For the 2012 season, more testing is planned during the coming weeks before the first race meeting of the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship takes place at Snetterton in Norfolk over Easter weekend, 7th/8th April.

For all the latest news regarding Sean’s progress, visit www.seanwalkinshaw.com

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography.

Seb MorrisSeb Morris, the reigning Ginetta Junior Champion, has confirmed his switch to single-seater racing for 2012. He has signed a deal with front-running team Fortec Motorsports to contest the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship, the recently announced Renault GP Cup and also including a comprehensive testing programme later in the year in preparation for his 2013 campaign.

Since wrapping-up the Ginetta Junior title last October after a thoroughly dominant season, the Marford teenager, a member of the MSA (Motor Sports Association) Academy, has been conducting a series of winter tests in both Formula Renault BARC and Formula Renault UK machinery.

Having considered a switch to Formula Renault UK, it was felt the Protyre Formula Renault BARC calendar fitted more neatly with the 16-year-old’s GCSE commitments at The King’s School, Chester.

The Renault GP Cup, announced last month, is a replacement for the previously planned ‘Formula Junior Class’ in Formula Renault UK. Drivers registered for Formula Renault BARC will be eligible to race alongside their Formula Renault UK counterparts, albeit in a separate class, during the final three race meetings of the UK season at Silverstone, Rockingham and Brands Hatch.

In addition to his race deal with Fortec, the plan is for Morris to enjoy prime testing opportunities with the Daventry squad later in 2012 in Formula Renault UK, Eurocup Formula Renault and British Formula 3 International Series cars.

“I’m relishing the chance to race and test with Fortec for my first year in single-seaters”, he said, “Formula Renault BARC is the ideal place to be. We had to factor in my school commitments, as it’s such an important year for my GCSEs. Being in the BARC Championship also gives me the chance to take part in three of the Formula Renault UK weekends in the new Renault GP Cup.

“Fortec’s record across so many championships speaks for itself and we plan to test in other cars, such as Eurocup Formula Renault and Formula 3, later in the year.”

Morris added: “I also want to take this chance to say a huge thank you to everyone at Hillspeed [Morris’ 2010 and 2011 team in Ginetta Junior] for their professionalism and support over the last couple of years, guiding me to the Winter Series title in 2010 and the main Ginetta Junior title last year. I wish them all well with their plans for 2012.”

Contested over an expanded 14 rounds this year, with the introduction of two triple-header events for the first time in the category’s history, the 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship will commence on Easter weekend, 7th/8th April, at Snetterton in Norfolk.

Concluding six months later on 6th/7th October at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, the final two rounds will run in support of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The Renault GP Cup, meanwhile, will begin on 8th/9th September at Silverstone’s Grand Prix Circuit (supporting British F3) before travelling to Rockingham on 22nd/23rd September (supporting BTCC) and Brands Hatch on 20th/21st October (supporting BTCC).

Seb Morris – Driver Profile
Age: 16
Date of Birth: 30th November 1995
Lives: Marford, Wrexham
Nationality: Welsh
Occupation: GCSE Pupil/Racing Driver
Sponsors: Liberty Propeties, Legat Owen

Championship Titles, Accolades and Career Highlights
2012 MSA (Motor Sports Association) Academy member
2011 WRDA Welsh Young Driver of the Year
2011 Ginetta Junior Champion – 11 wins and 16 podiums from 20 races
2010 Ginetta Junior Winter Series Champion – two wins and one second place from four races
2010 Dragon Master Mini Max Karting Champion
2009 Dragon Kart Club Mini Max Champion
2008 W60 Comer Cadet ‘Triple Crown’ Winner – Cheshire Kart Club Champion, Manchester & Buxton Kart Club Champion, Dragon Kart Club Champion; also UK Ace of Clubs Champion

Photo by Team SMR Limited

Laura TillettLaura Tillett, one of the hottest young prospects in UK motorsport, will make her car racing debut in the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship this year having chosen to pursue a career path in single-seaters – with the ultimate goal of climbing the ladder all the way to Formula One.

West Malling-based Laura, unquestionably one of the world’s top young female racers, has agreed a deal with renowned squad Fortec Motorsports to contest the ultra-competitive championship with a view to also driving in the three-event Renault GP Cup later in the year.

Off the back of an encouraging test in a Total Control Racing-run ‘tin top’ Renault Clio Cup car at Brands Hatch in January, the 20-year-old returned to the 1.2-mile Kent track last week to sample an FR 2.0 single-seater for the first time with Fortec. Impressing the team with her immediate pace and ability, Laura tested again at Silverstone last Friday, 24th February, before finalising her 2012 deal.

“I’m really, really excited to have signed for Fortec in Formula Renault BARC”, said the ecstatic Kent racer, “This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was little when I started out in karting, it feels like a dream come true and I couldn’t have hoped to be with a better team. I absolutely love the car, it’s really good to drive and my confidence grew massively over the two test days.”

Laura added: “The Clio Cup car was a lot of fun, I liked it a lot and I really want to say a big thank you to Lee (Brookes) and everyone at TCR – it’s a fantastic team. The Formula Renault suits my driving a bit better though, it’s more like the approach you have in karting so I feel more at home with it. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season, it’s going to be amazing!”

Laura will be backed in the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship by TILLETT Racing Seats, ET Fashions, Puma Motorsport and Point Racing, although additional sponsorship and commercial backing is still being sought to ensure her participation in the stand-alone Renault GP Cup which will take place in September and October.

Running as part of the sister Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship for registered drivers from the Protyre Formula Renault BARC category, the Renault GP Cup class will provide the BARC competitors with vital running at three of the UK’s biggest events – the British Formula 3 meeting at Silverstone in September and two British Touring Car Championship weekends.

As far as the main Formula Renault BARC season is concerned, Laura’s maiden car race will take place at Snetterton in Norfolk over Easter weekend, 7th/8th April, with the championship reaching its conclusion on 6th/7th October at Silverstone in Northamptonshire.

Speaking on behalf of Fortec, Steve Lynch – the squad’s Protyre Formula Renault BARC team manager – commented: “We’re delighted to have Laura onboard for the new season, she’s a great name from karting and in these first two tests with us she’s done a really good job – especially considering how little time she’s had in the car.

“At Brands she gained more and more confidence during the morning in the dry, unfortunately it rained at lunchtime but Laura still did a great job. It was a very steep learning curve but she built herself up well. Then, at Silverstone, it was damp to begin with but in the dry in the afternoon she found a lot of time. We’ve been very impressed and we’re looking forward to a good year.”

Alongside her maiden season of car racing in Formula Renault – the birthplace of future Grand Prix stars, such as F1 World Champions Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton – Laura will be working in an ambassadorial role with Caterham Motorsport as part of the company’s recently announced karting championship which is set to begin in 2013.

As the first female racer from Britain to compete in the premier class of the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship, Laura is the ideal candidate to help establish the one-make class which is set to offer a low-cost, yet high-value, option for young kart racers.

With Caterham becoming an increasingly prevalent force in global motorsport, from the grass roots all the way through to the FIA Formula One World Championship, the new-for-2013 karting category will complete the manufacturer’s impressive ladder of opportunity.

Photo by Gary Hawkins

Alice PowellChipping Norton racer, Alice Powell, will be on Sky Sports News on the 8th of March, in aid of International Women’s Day. The 19 year old will be talking about her career so far, plans for the future and also what it is like to be a woman in a male dominated sport.

The interview will also feature Alice coaching young female karters, at her karting school at the Formula Fast Indoor Kart track in Banbury. Alice has also recently finished filming with Sky Sports F1 reporter, Natalie Pinkham, on a short programme, not only about her career, but fitness in the sport too. This will be shown on the brand new Sky Sports F1 channel (launching on the 9th March), yet the date for it to be shown has not yet been set.

It is not yet known what Alice will be racing in this year, as funding is not yet in place. There is a wide range of packages offered to those who wish to help fund Alice this year, so if you would like to support Alice through sponsorship, please visit www.alice-powell.com or email info@alice-powell.com.

Josh WebsterTeam UK’s Josh Webster will graduate to the main Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship for the 2012 season after today, Thursday, 16th February, finalising a deal to remain with experienced race-winning squad Mark Burdett Motorsport.

The Stowmarket teenager delivered an impressive performance on his debut in a current specification FR 2.0 car when driving for the Skegness squad during the six-round Formula Renault UK ‘Finals Series’ last November – finishing an excellent third overall in the driver standings.

Having concluded the 2011 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship as Vice-Champion just a month earlier, taking three wins and six other podiums from 12 races, Josh’s ability, determination and focus over the past 12 months have seen him gain a strong foothold in single-seater racing.

“We’ve been working so hard to try and put together a deal to race in Formula Renault UK this year so I’m happy we’ve been able to agree something with Mark Burdett”, said Josh, “The team did a great job for me in the Finals Series last year and together we showed we’ve got what it takes to run at the front in Formula Renault UK.

“I have to say a big thank you to all of my sponsors, especially James Palmer of Nine Telecom, Graham McMullen and David Marsden of Admiral Managed Networks and Pas Ruggiero of Integra ICT, for continuing to support me and helping us to finalise a great drive for 2012. This is going to be such an important year for my career, particularly as I’ll be representing Team UK and the MSA, so I’ll be giving it everything.”

Speaking on behalf of the team, Mark Burdett commented: “We were very impressed with Josh in the Finals Series last year, he did a very good job and the top priority for us this season was to try and sort out a deal with him. We’re delighted he’s with us, we’ve all got a great working relationship with Josh and the aim is to try and fight for the championship – that’s why we’re here!”

Renowned as one of the most important junior single-seater categories in the world, the Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship has produced some of motorsport’s greatest names since its inception in 1989 and is a true ante-chamber to the world of Formula One.

FIA Formula One World Champions Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton are both past winners of the Formula Renault UK title, while fellow Grand Prix stars Paul Di Resta and Heikki Kovalainen also came through the championship en-route to F1.

For the first time in the history of Formula Renault UK, this year’s championship will feature three races at each meeting – bringing the category in-line with the format employed by the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series.

Beginning at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit over the weekend 31st March/1st April, as part of the British Touring Car Championship package, the season will take in visits to Donington Park, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Snetterton, Rockingham and the finale at Brands Hatch GP Circuit on 20th/21st October.

Away from the seven BTCC support dates, Formula Renault UK will visit Zandvoort in The Netherlands in mid-July where it will run alongside the prestigious Formula 3 Masters event. In early September, the championship will also support British F3 at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography.

Shahaan Engineer - Formula RenaultIndian teenager Shahaan Engineer is delighted to officially confirm his participation in the 2012 Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship after agreeing a deal with multiple title winning team Fortec Motorsports.

Remaining with the Daventry-based squad for his first full year of car racing competition, having debuted with Fortec last November in the six round Protyre Formula Renault 2.0 UK ‘Finals Series’, the 16-year-old will be one of the youngest and least experienced drivers in the ultra-competitive championship which begins on 31st March/1st April at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Currently competing in New Zealand’s Toyota Racing Series to gain essential mileage and seat time ahead of the main 2012 Formula Renault UK season, Shahaan is relishing the chance to continue his relationship with Fortec.

Utterly dominant last year, winning the driver and team Formula Renault UK titles, the Richard Dutton-led squad will provide the Indian with the best schooling possible in a championship which has produced the likes of FIA Formula One World Champions Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton.

“It’s fantastic to be back racing with Fortec this year in Formula Renault UK”, said Shahaan, “There’s no doubt it’s the best team in the championship and I can’t wait for pre-season testing to start. It’ll be an unbelievably tough season, it’s such a competitive championship, but by racing with the best drivers and being with the champion team I’ll be able to learn a huge amount.”

Dubai-domiciled Shahaan only started his motor racing career in 2008 when he took the UAE karting scene by storm. In his first race in the Middle East Karting Cup, aged only 12, the young rookie took a superb victory by six seconds – a massive margin in karting terms.

Debuting in Europe only two months later, he ran in the top order immediately against experienced drivers two and three years his senior. In 2010, Shahaan arrived in the UK to compete in the Formula One Management-backed Formula Kart Stars series and starred on his debut – qualifying third and finishing fifth on his first weekend, the youngster’s talent was clear to see.

Last year, the decision to rapidly progress into single-seater car racing was taken. Making a huge impression on the Fortec Motorsports squad during his first ever test in a Formula Renault BARC car at the challenging Oulton Park, so impressive was his performance Shahaan was advised to forego the club-level series and debut instead in the full national-level Formula Renault UK series.

Joining Fortec for the winter ‘Finals Series’, the debutant qualified an outstanding eighth out of 29 competitors during his maiden session and went on to take five strong points-scoring results from the six races contested.

“Shahaan’s had a successful career in karting and his performances in the Finals Series demonstrated that he is more than capable of having a strong season with us”, said Fortec’s Formula Renault UK team manager Alex Fleming, “Although still very young, he is extremely focused and I’m sure that his hard work will pay off this season.”

Shahaan has one event remaining in the Toyota Racing Series, next weekend (11th/12th February) at Manfeild Autocourse in New Zealand. From there, he will return to the UK in readiness for his testing programme with Fortec ahead of the 2012 Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship season.

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography.

Alice PowellAlice has been selected as A BRDC rising star for a second year running, due to her achievements in 2011. Aged 24 and under, the BRDC Rising Stars are very much the future of the Club, today. Scouted from trackside, the BRDC Rising Stars are in effect ‘Junior Members’ of the Club, all taking their motor racing very seriously and all aiming for a professional career within the sport.

Lewis Hamilton and Alex Lloyd are just two success stories from the Rising Star scheme, so the BRDC Rising Star panellist, has a proven track record of selecting only the best of individuals.

18 year-old Alice is the 2010 Formula Renault BARC Champion scoring two wins, seven podiums and two pole positions and finished runner up in the 2011 MRF Championship in India. Speaking about being selected, Alice commented “I am extremely pleased to be selected again and would like to thank the BRDC for this opportunity and also everyone who has helped me last year, giving me the chance to be on the scheme again”.

However, it is not yet known what Alice will be racing in this year, as funding is not yet in place. There is a wide range of packages offered to those who wish to help fund Alice this year, so if you would like to support Alice through sponsorship, please visit www.alice-powell.com or email info@alice-powell.com.

Shahaan EngineerMumbai-born Shahaan Engineer has underlined his position as India’s best young hope for a future career in the FIA Formula One World Championship after making a major impression on the Formula Renault UK Championship’s six race ‘Finals Series’.

Undertaking his car racing debut in what has widely been regarded as the most competitive Finals Series (formerly the Winter Series) in the category’s history, the 16-year-old karting graduate was the only single-seater rookie and the youngest driver on the near-capacity 29-car grid at Snetterton (5/6 November) and Rockingham (12 November) but shone with a series of excellent performances.

Joining Formula Renault UK’s top team Fortec Motorsports for his maiden campaign, Shahaan picked up his pace throughout testing ahead of the first four rounds of the Finals Series at Snetterton 300 Circuit and stunned the paddock in his maiden qualifying session with the eighth fastest time.

In spite of an unfortunate grid penalty for rounds one and two, due to yellow flags being shown at the time he set his best lap, Shahaan raced through the order brilliantly and outperformed drivers with experience of Formula Renault UK, Eurocup Formula Renault, Formula BMW and Formula Ford.

Serving up tremendous overtaking moves in horrendous wet conditions, far belying his inexperience, the talented Indian newcomer finished 13th in his first race – out of 29 competitors – and then took 14th place in race two.

During rounds three and four on the second day at Snetterton, he secured a pair of top 12 finishes to cap a superb first ever weekend in cars. More than that, both results were achieved despite starting way down the order in an uncharacteristic 26th position in each instance due to missing the entirety of the second qualifying session because of a faulty wiring loom.

Moving on to the incredibly challenging Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit this past weekend for rounds five and six, Shahaan quickly got up to speed once more with qualifying again taking place in tough, damp conditions along with the added complication of early fog.

Racing through to 14th position in the first race to post his fifth points-scoring finish from five starts, Shahaan eclipsed all of his previous outings in the last round of the championship by climbing his way into ninth place and on course for a truly memorable conclusion to the Finals Series.

India’s freshest motor racing star on fast track to success…
Matching podium finishing pace, the teenager lapped with a best time of 1m17.955 seconds as he reeled in the cars ahead but on lap 14 – with only three further laps remaining in the race – Shahaan was unfortunately punished heavily for the smallest of errors with a disappointing retirement.

Building in confidence all the time and eager to push for an even better result than ninth, at the exit of the fifth corner he just caught one of the remaining damp patches on the track and was powerless to prevent his car spinning off onto the infield.

“I just pushed a bit too hard trying to catch the cars in front”, he said after round six, “I wanted a bit more than ninth place as the pace was really good and I felt really comfortable with the car. The adrenaline rush was tremendous as I realised I had just a few laps left with a top 10 in hand.

“I was confident of catching the three cars in front but I just caught the damp patch and spun. It’s a real shame but it’s still been a very strong and positive weekend. Overall I’m really happy with what we’ve achieved in such a short space of time over the last two weekends, it’s been fantastic.”

So impressive has the young Indian’s debut car racing campaign been, Fortec Motorsports has declared its desire to sign Shahaan to a contract for the main 2012 season which is expected to get underway in Britain at the beginning of April.

Team owner Richard Dutton commented: “Shahaan did an amazing job and showed true race spirit in his first few races in a race car, we look forward to learning more of what Shahaan can show us and are happy to continue into 2012 with him.”

Perhaps most impressive of all though is the fact in 12 days of testing and racing in challenging, wet weather Shahaan incurred no damage whatsoever to his car – proving his terrific natural car control and tremendous awareness on circuit.

The chief aim over the past two weekends has been to achieve maximum track time and to learn about starts and racecraft. In doing all of that with a commitment and maturity of a driver of far senior years, India’s freshest star of the track has made a significant first impression…

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography.