News

Manchester’s Webb Wins at Brands Hatch

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6^th April 2009

Manchester-based racing driver, Oliver Webb (18) showed his determination to take the Formula Renault Championship title this season, with a dominant victory and lap record in the first round at Brands Hatch (5^th April).

A wet qualifying session had seen Webb snatch 2^nd on the grid as the track dried and he switched to slicks in the latter stages. With a novice driver snatching pole position just seconds before the session closed, Webb was in a strong position in race one. A reasonable start had seen Webb maintain position initially, but a super start from Jordan Oakes saw the Formula BMW graduate lose a place to third.

Webb once again demonstrated the superb overtaking skills he honed in the Formula Renault Championship last season. Knowing that pole sitter Harry Ticknell was in his first ever race in the Championship, Webb was waiting for the experienced Oakes in second to push the novice into a mistake. He didn’t have to wait long and on lap two the A-level student made a superb move up the inside as Oakes and Ticknell ran wide. From that point Webb concentrated on creating a cushion and in the process set an all-time lap record for Formula Renault on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

After his first victory in Formula Renault, Webb enthused: “That is such a good start to the season and getting the lap record means I also get an extra couple of points, which could make all the difference at the end of the season. I learnt a lot last year and this is a perfect start to a season in which I want to be challenging for the title.”

Sunday’s second race was a test of Webb’s racing calibre with a brake change having affected the balance of the car during the Saturday qualifying session. Webb started 10^th, but only two tenths of a second away from championship rival James Calado who was on pole. The North-West born youngster got off to good start and had made up two places by the end of the first lap. From there he held station until the fifth lap when in a move described as brave on ITV television, Webb went up the inside at Paddock hill bend to take seventh. Despite his best efforts he held seventh until the end of the race.

The weekend’s results give Webb second in the Championship table and leave him in a great position going into the next races at Thruxton on the 25^th and 26^th April.

ENDS

www.oliwebbracing.com