Formula Renault

Manor Competition Donington II Saturday notes

EXCELLENT TEAM EFFORT FROM MANOR IN DONINGTON GP QUALIFYING New Ollerton-based Formula Renault UK team Manor Competition is looking forward to a strong pair of races at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit tomorrow, Sunday, 9th September, after an ...

Edited: Sep 9, 2007, 5:29 AM

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EXCELLENT TEAM EFFORT FROM MANOR IN DONINGTON GP QUALIFYING

New Ollerton-based Formula Renault UK team Manor Competition is looking forward to a strong pair of races at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit tomorrow, Sunday, 9th September, after an excellent team performance during round 17 and 18 qualifying at the Leicestershire venue this afternoon.

Following on from a great outing during pre-event testing on Wednesday, whererace-winner Alexander Sims topped the times during the second of three sessions, Manor headed into qualifying today with high hopes for all four drivers and the result saw Sims, new-signing Joe D'Agostino, Alex Morgan and Kris Loane all impress.

Sims ended the single 20-minute qualifying session as the quickest of the team-mates with a best lap of 1m 29.398 seconds (162 kph) to seize fourth on the grid for round 17, one spot ahead of the outstanding D'Agostino who, on his long-overdue return to action, stunned with the fifth fastest time of 1m 29.493 seconds (161.8 kph).

The American, who joined Manor following an 11th-hour deal this past week, looked as though he'd never been out of a Formula Renault and certainly cemented his status as a quality driver, heading the times for large chunks of the session.

With just one qualifying session being used this weekend to determine the grid for both races, consistency was ultra-important and both Sims and D'Agostino delivered, the former taking third on the grid for round 18 and his new team-mate lining up in the top five once again with impressive laps.

Welshman Alex Morgan produced his best ever qualifying run with an excellent effort during the combined qualifying period, a terrific eighth position for the round 17 grid bettered with a top seven start for round 18. Less than a half a second shy of pole on the Grand Prix layout, Morgan is rightly confident of a career-best run tomorrow.

Kris Loane, meanwhile, will start the first of tomorrow's races from 12th position while for the second encounter he will line-up in an improved 11th place. Although not his best qualifying performance of the season, the Northern Ireland ace has been showing great race-craft recently and is aiming to achieve a brace of excellent results on Sunday.

"It's been a good day for us", said Manor boss Tony Shaw, "Alexander was impressive and Joe did a fabulous job on his return to the championship. Alex was particularly outstanding with his performance and we're confident Kris will do well in the races and finish strongly in the top 10. We're really looking forward to tomorrow."

Round 17 of the 2007 Formula Renault UK Championship will take place at 09.00 tomorrow, Sunday, 9th September, with round 18 expected to follow at 15.55.

-credit: www.manorcompetition.com

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