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Webb’s Packed Snetterton Weekend

Knutsford based Formula Renault Driver, Oliver Webb, had a busy race weekend at the Snetterton round on the 12^th and 13^th July.

Knockhill’s inclement weather meant that one of the Formula Renault races was cancelled, and had to be run on the Snetterton weekend. This gave Webb three races on one of the fastest circuits on the calendar. Before taking part in the postponed race, Webb had been confident after a consistent top six performance in practice and testing.

However, Webb was again disappointed with a qualifying performance that did not match his pace in practice. The Formula BMW graduate was frustrated to produce his worst qualifying performance of the season, with a traffic affected 15^th for race one. Qualifying two was also busy, but Webb managed to get his tyres coming to temperature to coincide with a relatively clear lap. Half a second was the difference and Webb qualified a much more respectable 10^th for race two.

The Knockhill round was first on the agenda and Webb set about his task with enthusiasm and so proving he was on the pace. Starting ninth, from his grid position earned in Knockhill, Webb showed great race craft in working his way up to fifth and was challenging for fourth when the chequered flag came out.

 Webb went into race two with his spirits lifted by the successes in race one and managed to gain places from the grid. However, once he had gained 11^th place the Fortec driver was unable to get any further through the field. Throughout the grid there was very little overtaking and despite his best efforts, Webb took the chequered flag in an unfamiliar 11^th place.

Race three gave him renewed impetus and Webb had one of his finest starts this year, overtaking three cars in a daring dive round the outside. Just as Webb was getting into the race he was dealt a huge blow when one of the AKA cars blew up in front of him, depositing the contents of its radiator on his tyres. Robbed of any grip, Webb span and was relegated to 13^th in an instant. Despite this setback, the Cheshire born driver gave it his all and got himself back to ninth.

Webb is next in action on the 26^th of July at his home circuit of Oulton Park in Cheshire.