06-07-2009
Tincknell Still Leader Of The Pack

Harry Tincknell impressed the packed crowds at the World Series by Renault event at Silverstone, Northants yesterday. The Exeter driver showing great maturity and determination in hot, dry conditions, maintaining his position at the lead of the Formula Renault UK Championship Graduate Cup, and racing in front of 85,000 fans.

Conditions during Saturday’s qualifying were changeable, with both track and air temperature dropping rapidly through the session. With grip deteriorating, Tincknell could only reach 11th place on the grid for Sunday’s first race, and 15th for the second race.

In the first race, Tincknell made a great start, avoiding clashes through the fast and difficult Copse corner to maintain position. Tincknell closed up to within three-tenths of a second from the leading pack, but was forced wide onto the grass of the Hanger Straight at over 130mph, maintaining his composure to finish 12th overall.

In the second race, Tincknell executed another of his textbook starts, and charged past five drivers on the first lap. The 17-year old racer then proceeded to work his way past CRS Racing team-mate Matias Laine on the outside of Stowe corner on lap nine, before cruising past Fredrik Blomstedt on the next lap, to finish eighth.

“There was a great atmosphere this weekend at Silverstone, and although I got stuck in traffic during the first race, the second was definitely one of my best drives this season,” said Tincknell. “Conditions during the race were quite different to qualifying, but I pushed hard to gain seven places during the race, and I was hot on the heels of the leading pack; if only I’d had a few more laps!

"I’ve gained lots of valuable experience from fighting up through the field this weekend, at a location I’ll be returning to later in the season. Hopefully I can convert this experience into even better results later in the year."

Tincknell now has a four-week summer break, with the next round of the Formula Renault UK Championship taking place at Snetterton, Norfolk, on 2 August.