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Webb Retains Championship Lead at Snetterton

Webb Retains Championship Lead at Snetterton

Championship-leading, Formula Renault Driver, Oliver Webb scored yet another podium finish in a tough weekend’s racing at the ultra-fast Snetterton circuit in Norfolk.

Qualifying didn’t go as well as testing for the ex-Formula BMW graduate and Webb ended both sessions with fourth on the grid. His position only told half the story, with just three tenths of a second covering the top eight drivers on the ultra-competitive Formula Renault grid for race one.

The first race was marred by a very heavy crash for one of Webb’s fellow drivers, Matias Lane, which knocked the young driver unconscious. Lane was taken to hospital and is still recovering at the time of writing.

The race had started well for Webb with a decent start keeping him on par with the drivers in front of him. After several laps, Webb was forced wide to avoid oil on the track and allowed the fifth placed man past. Never one to shy away from overtaking, Webb pulled off an audacious overtaking manoeuvre into the fearsome “Bomb Hole corner” to retake fourth.

Webb was now behind Championship rival Dean Stoneman, and his sustained pressure forced the Alpine Motorsport driver wide. Stoneman came back across after running wide and nearly took Webb out, but the Manchester-based youngster reacted quickly and got past to take third.

Race two turned out to be a low point in the weekend, with Webb being beaten off the start by David McDonald, who was unusually quick at the East Anglian circuit. Webb was stuck behind him lap after lap with McDonald managing to stay in front, despite being slightly slower. The North-West-based driver finished fifth and was disappointed but determined, commenting: “That wasn’t the best weekend Championship-wise, but I am still leading and I will be doubly determined going into silverstone in three weeks time. Now I have finished my A-levels I can concentrate 100% on racing like the rest of the drivers in Formula Renault have done all year.”

He continued: “I also want to send my best wishes to Matias who had a big crash in race one, I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him racing again soon.”