19-05-2009
Tincknell Consolidates His Lead At Donington

Harry Tincknell drove two mature races in the Formula Renault UK Championship at Donington Park this weekend, to consolidate his place as leader of the 2009 Graduate Cup. In treacherous racing conditions, Tincknell kept his car on-track to net nine points during the weekend, avoiding numerous on-track clashes.

Tincknell was rapid in the damp 30-minute qualifying session, and secured eighth position on the grid for race one. A sudden late change in track conditions meant that he lost out on a
front-row grid position for race two, qualifying in 19th.

The Exeter-based racer made a clean start in race one. On lap four, pursued by rival Jordan Oakes down Starkey’s Straight, Tincknell moved to defend his sixth position, forcing Oakes wide. Although no contact took place, the race stewards penalised Tincknell with disqualification.

The second race was wet, with standing water around the track creating spray that drastically reduced all the drivers’ visibility. Fighting in the mid-pack of the field, the 17-year-old successfully navigated around the first-lap accident that claimed three places, and after the safety car restart, rose through the field to ninth, dropping back to finish 12th by the chequered flag as his tyres wore away.

“Racing through the spray, and on a slippery surface has been a real challenge, so to take points away from the weekend is good, with so many other drivers retiring,” said Tincknell. “Obviously I was disappointed with the outcome of the first race, but improving by seven places in the second is something I’m pleased about, and I’ve gained a lot of experience around a track I’ve not previously had a lot of laps on. The next round is at Oulton Park in Cheshire, my favourite track.”

Tincknell leads the Graduate Cup with 80-points, a nine-point lead. The next round at Oulton Park, Cheshire takes place on 31 May.