Formula Renault

FR 2000: Comtec Racing Nogaro report

COMTEC IN HOT PURSUTE Comtec Racing (Team United Kingdom) made an impressive debut in the first round of the Formula Renault Championship at Nogaro in the South of France. Following a successful Eurocup test in Le Mans, ...

Edited: Mar 30, 2005, 10:02 AM

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COMTEC IN HOT PURSUTE

Comtec Racing (Team United Kingdom) made an impressive debut in the first round of the Formula Renault Championship at Nogaro in the South of France.

Following a successful Eurocup test in Le Mans, the team had a disappointing test for the French Formula Renault Championship on Friday, Race Director Jonathan Lewis said "All the other teams have been testing for this championship; this is our first French test, so we had a lot to learn"

Saturday's qualifying session was of course, a different story. Westley Barber 4 times race winner at Nogaro, didn't waste anytime setting the pace by putting in a time of 1.26.213 leaving him 5th on the grid for the first race on Sunday. Barber then went on to do an impressive time of 1.25.973 elevating him to pole for the second race on bank holiday Monday.

On her first visit to Norago, team mate Pippa Mann had very little time to acclimatise herself to the Circuit. First qualifying session saw Mann in 32nd place on the grid for the first race on Sunday. Mann then stepped up the pace by putting in her best lap doing a time of 1.27.736, taking her up the grip to 26.

On a damp, but drying track, both drivers managed to drive a clean race avoiding a multiple crash at the second corner on the first lap. Barber dropped back to 6th place, but retained his place buy an impressive move down the inside at Epingle de l'ecole. Mann improved her position by not putting a wheel wrong, she drove a strong race and brought the car home to finish 18th.

Mann commented "It's been really tough to come here and be expected to qualify and then race with only about 20 laps of the circuit under my belt - especially so early in the year as with the Eurocup we have only had three days of testing since January. Team Comtec have been doing a really great job with the cars, and from where I started, I have to be pretty pleased with 18th."

Barber said "I'm delighted with the result and I'm looking forward to Monday's race starting from pole, I know the car is good, so we should have a good chance of winning"

Jonathan Lewis Said "I'm very happy with result, both rivers started on the damp side of the track, which didn't help. On closer inspection to Westley's car, we found that the rear shock absorber had broke, which caused huge handling problems. I'm delighted with Pippa; she drove a strong race and made an impressive move up the grid. We are looking forward to tomorrow's race, where Westley will start from Pole".

-cr-

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