UK: CRS Racing Silverstone preview

EUAN HANKEY JOINS CRS AT SILVERSTONE

CRS Racing will be joined by a new face at the Silverstone round of the 2009 Formula Renault UK Championship. Euan Hankey is stepping into car no.4 while Matias Laine continues to make a good recovery from his crash at Snetterton.

Twenty-two year-old Euan recently took a break from racing in order to fully focus on his university degree. He had a good career in karting before stepping up to the Formula BMW Championship where he was rookie champion in 2005. He went on to race in the highly-competitive Formula 3 Euro Series before taking time out to study.

With just six races remaining the Formula Renault UK Championship the fight for final positions is hotting up, especially in the Graduate Cup where CRS' Harry Tincknell is leading the way.

HARRY TINCKNELL:

"We've had another long break since the last race at Snetterton so I can't wait to get back on track this weekend at Silverstone. This time we're on the National track, which although it only has four corners, is another one of my favourites and I drove well at the pre-season test there so I am hoping for another good result. I haven't been in the car for nearly four weeks so it will be important to get back up to speed quickly and I will be looking for two strong qualifying performances as this has let me down at the last couple of races. I received a great boost to my Graduate Cup title aspirations by winning my Donington appeal after the last race and I have been training really hard out in Portugal since then. This weekend I'll be looking to extend my lead in the Graduate Cup and be as far up the grid as possible to try and move up to fifth in the main championship which would be a great result for my first year in cars."

JOSH SCOTT:

"After another break in our calendar I am really looking forward to returning to Silverstone. Even though it's on a different configuration the atmosphere that the place has is outstanding. I am looking for some more good results this weekend. Snetterton was not the best of rounds for me, especially after my win at the previous round at Silverstone. My goal for this round is to qualify well again on the front two rows and push as hard as I can for those top three places and if all goes well another win! Although I am very happy to be getting back in the car, I have enjoyed this little break as it gives you a chance to try and switch off from racing, do some hard training and relax."

LEWIS WILIAMSON:

"I've had a good break and I'm now really looking forward to the Silverstone weekend. I am also hoping that I will be able improve from the World Series round there previously. Although it's the National Circuit we are racing this weekend, it is still Silverstone and getting the opportunity to race there again is great. The first official test there at the start of the year went quite well and that was my first time on the track, so it will be good to get going again."

MICHAEL LYONS:

"In the last rounds at Snetterton I was finally able to gain some consistency in my results all the way through the weekend. I feel it was a bit of a turning point for me and as a result it should set me up really well for this weekend. The national circuit at Silverstone should be a strong one for me as, despite missing the pre-season test here due to other commitments, it is the circuit where I have done the majority of my winter testing so I am feeling reasonably confident. The circuit has some great overtaking places and I can't wait to get back out on track again after what seems like a really long break."

EUAN HANKEY:

"I'm extremely excited to be racing again after a two-year break while I completed my university degree. It's brilliant to have the opportunity to come back and race with a Championship-winning team in the form of CRS. This will be the first time I have raced in the Formula Renault Championship so I'm just looking to learn as much as I can and enjoy being back in a racing car."

-credit: crsr