News
22.07.07
Victory for Ollie Hancock at Silverstone
Nineteen year-old Ollie Hancock took two pole positions and his maiden BARC Formula Renault victory in last weekends double-header meeting at Silverstone. The Hampshire man qualified 0.9 seconds ahead of the pack for race one and 1.6 seconds ahead for race two, but had to work hard for his first win.
Race 1
A good start helped Hancock build a small lead in the opening laps, but as he fought a slight imbalance in the set-up of his car, championship rival Rossi soon closed the gap and found a way past at the half way point. Staying just close enough to take advantage of the slightest of errors from Rossi, Hancock regained the lead on the final lap as the two lapped a spinning backmarker. Able to hold on for the last two corners, Hancock crossed the line to take his first BARC Formula Renault victory by less than half a second.
Race 2
A strong start saw Hancock initially convert his pole into an early lead, but having slipped to second, he then lost two more positions to drivers overtaking under yellow flags -- a move for which both would later receive severe reprimands from race officials. A tap from Aaron Steele on lap five then pushed Hancock into a spin and, despite a determined fight back through the field, an eleventh place finish was all that could be salvaged in the remaining laps.
Ollie Hancock: "Of course Im absolutely over the moon to have won my first Renault race today, its just a shame that the frustrations of race two inevitably take the edge off a bit. Either way though, weve made a huge leap forward this weekend and two poles and a win is a testimony to the team and shows the rest of the field what were capable of. The whole Mark Burdett Racing outfit has worked really hard all year to give me a brilliant car, so Im happy to finally be able to repay them with a result -- this win is definitely for them."