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Webb Shows His Potential at Brands Hatch

Knutsford-based, racing driver, Oli Webb (17) showed great promise in the first Formula Renault race of the 2008 season, at Brands Hatch. Unfortunately, an incredible second place on the grid was not converted into a podium finish, after the Formula BMW graduate stalled when the lights went green.

Webb was confident going into the weekend having been consistently in the top five during recent testing and regularly posting the fastest time for a graduate driver*. Unfortunately for Webb, the first qualifying session took place in mixed wet and dry conditions, something he hadn?t experienced in all his testing. The experience of those who have raced for a season or more in Formula Renault came to the fore and the front of the grid was populated by the second season drivers, with Webb in 13th.

The Cheshire-born driver didn?t get the best start and was overhauled by two drivers, but recovered quickly and set about recovering his position with some relish. The former karter carved his way through the pack, overtaking several of his rivals to end up 13th. During the race, Webb showed he was on the pace, with the fastest Graduate lap and fourth fastest overall.

Race two saw heightened expectation for Webb with him starting second on the grid after a very well judged qualifying session. The young hotshot had gone straight out in the first session and was only six thousandths of a second away from pole when a heavy rain shower sent times tumbling. At the start of race two, the youngster found himself creeping at the start and stalled in an attempt to avoid a penalty for a jumped start. By keeping his wits about him, Webb managed to restart the car almost instantaneously and recovered to ninth where he held station to the end of the race.

Webb found the weekend ultimately frustrating, but felt he could take heart from his pace during both races, commenting:

"I am annoyed with myself for not making the best of the second place on the grid in race 2, but equally relieved I managed to get restarted so quickly, it could have been much worse! I have to take away the positive elements as I look ahead to Rockingham and I was demonstrably on the pace throughout the weekend. I went well in pre-season testing at Rockingham, so I will hope to learn from the mistakes at Brands Hatch."

Webb will be back in action at the Rockingham Motor Speedway round of the Formula Renault on the 12th and 13th April.