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Webb Takes to Europe in a Storm
Webb Takes to Europe in a Storm
Knutsford’s Oliver Webb took part in his first mainland European round of the Formula Renault Championship at Zolder in Belgium this weekend (9th-10th August). Keen to gain experience for an all-out assault on the 2009 single seater title, Webb had travelled to Belgium to bridge the 5-week gap between rounds in the UK Championship. The Formula BMW graduate was also keen to ascertain where he lay in comparison to the drivers in the Northern European division of Formula Renault. Before the Thursday, Webb had never even seen Zolder and a walk round the 2.5 mile circuit was his first acquaintance with the historic Belgian venue. Having made the most of his walk round, the young driver was pitched straight into just 10 laps of testing. This was to be the Fotec team’s first visit to Zolder and the team and drivers had no time to adjust to a new circuit and a different compound of tyre to the British series. Going into qualifying, Webb was less confident as a hugely wet track meant he was venturing out on fresh wet weather tyres, in conditions where scrubbed rubber would be preferable. Just as the field were forming up in the assembly area, the track started rapidly drying, causing problems with all runners on wets. After a few laps the whole grid started to switch to slicks and the times tumbled all the way through.. Unfortunately for Webb, his two quickest times, both inside the top eight counted for nothing as the stewards took a dim view of him clipping the white line on the pit exit, and relegated him to 14th and 17th on the grid. Race one saw Webb make a good start, and he surged from 14th to take 11th by the end of the first lap. The A-level student worked hard and gained another place up to 10th, then the lead driver had an upright failure, slid off the track and covered the track in mud and gravel. Unfortunately, Webb who was going for an overtaking manouvre was off the racing line and went through the detritus, causing him to spin and lose places. Rejoining 15th, Webb had the bit between his teeth and fought his way back to 11th with customary determination. Sunday came and so did the rain, near Biblical showers leaving the track flooded and many of the saloon car championships sharing the event, were cancelled. Despite being lighter, open topped and more prone to aquaplaning, the Formula Renault cars were mysteriously allowed to race. Webb starting 17th, wasn’t expecting a great deal from the race, but a super start catapulted him to 13th after just two corners, he felt he had a better chance. However, the conditions were the worst Webb had ever seen and cars were spinning of the circuit everywhere and spray made it impossible to see. A lack of circuit knowledge meant Webb was guessing his braking points and along with everyone else in the field, frequently losing where he was on the rain lashed course. Eventually the Cheshire-born racer fought his way to 10th and was challenging for 9th when an early braking manoeuvre from the man in front caught him out. Suddenly presented with a very slow moving car, looming out the spray, Webb dived on the brakes, locked the rear wheels and spun into the gravel, ending his race. After a educational weekend, Webb commented: “That wasn’t how we anticipated it, with neither the team or myself having raced here we weren’t expecting to be on the pace. But despite the mishaps it was clear that we were close to the European guys, despite being unfamiliar with the tyres and circuit. It is reassuring to know that the UK championship is obviously one of the best around.” He continued: “The racing on Sunday was like nothing I have ever experienced, we couldn’t understand why the saloons were not racing yet it was fine for us. It must have looked like a field of novices to the spectators, people were going off in a straight line and braking in the middle of straights!” Webb will be back in action on more familiar ground at Silverstone in three weeks time.
