News

Webb Edges Closer at Rockingham

14^th April 2008

Knutsford-based racing driver, Oliver Webb, showed he’s learning all the time finishing as the first Graduate in Race two of the Rockingham rounds of the Formula Renault Championship.

Qualifying one started well with Webb consistently in the top three over the first few laps. A flurry of quick laps at the end relegated him to eighth place and the ex-Formula BMW racer felt he hadn’t got the best of his tyres. Amazingly, just one tenth of a second covered third to eighth places, demonstrating the level of competition in Formula Renault this year.

Qualifying session two gave Webb the opportunity to change two of his tyres and the car didn’t feel as good on two worn and two new tyres. Despite this impediment, Webb got on with the job in hand and qualified sixth.

Mindful of his stalling incident at Brands Hatch, Webb started cautiously in race one and lost two places off the line. Demonstrating his tenacity, Webb immediately made amends by passing one of the cars immediately into turn one. After the pack had settled down it became difficult to pass round the tight infield of Rockingham. In the closing stages, Webb, buoyed by his consistently quick lap times lined up the 8^th placed driver and passed him out of the last corner.

Race two saw Webb lining up sixth on the grid and a determination to keep his position as the highest place graduate. His second race start was much better than his first and he was right up behind the fourth and fifth placed drivers going into the first bend. His impressive start gave him the confidence to pass the fifth-placed driver into turn one, by dummying his intentions first. Despite battling hard throughout the race, Webb was unable to pass any more drivers, with the top five staying virtually nose to tail.

Webb was pleased with the weekend’s results and is really looking forward to Donington, commenting:

Webb will next be in action at Donington on the 3^rd and 4^th of May.