UK: Series Thruxton test summary

TINCKNELL IMPRESSES AT THRUXTON PRACTICE

CRS Racing's Harry Tincknell (Exeter) set the fastest time during official Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship free practice at Thruxton on Tuesday, 14th April. The 17-year-old Graduate Cup driver posted a time of 1min 09.931s (121.28mph average) in the first of two practice sessions at the 2.36-mile Hampshire circuit.

Championship leader James Calado (Cropthorne) in the Fortec Motorsport car boosted his confidence ahead of rounds three and four which take place at Thruxton on 25th/26th April by going second quickest.

Local noise restrictions meant the free practice sessions were held ahead of the race instead of the usual custom of holding them on the Friday prior to the race weekend, meaning the drivers will go straight into qualifying on Saturday, 25th April.

The first session got underway in dry, but cold conditions with Tincknell posting his best time of the session and the day on lap 20 -- beating the current lap record for the circuit which was set by 2008 Formula Renault UK Champion Adam Christodoulou last season. Calado was second quickest for the session followed by CRS Racing's Josh Scott (AUS) and 2008 Graduate Cup winner Dean Stoneman (Southampton) in the Alpine Motorsport car.

Fortec Motorsport's Fredrik Blomstedt (SWE), Manor Competition's David McDonald (Ewell, Surrey) and SSS Motorsport with Hillspeed's Lee Dwyer (Huddersfield) were also among the top drivers.

The warmer afternoon session saw Calado take the top spot posting a time of 1min 10.196s (120.82mph average) with Mark Burdett Motorsport's Jesse Krohn (FIN), now in his second season, going second quickest.

Round one winner Oli Webb (Knutsford) in the Fortec Motorsport car went third quickest with Manor Competition's Thomas Hylkema (NED), Stoneman and Fortec Graduate Cup driver Will Stevens (Oxshott) the leading drivers for the session.

Podium finisher from Brands Hatch Jordan Oakes (Hopton on Sea) in the Hitech Junior Team car could only manage a best of eighth for the session, while privateer racer Michael Lyons (Felsted, Essex) produce one of his best performances to take 10th.

The practice session also saw two new entrants to the single-seater Championship -- Mark Burdett Motorsport's James Dixon (Stockbury, Kent) and Falcon Motorsport's Jordan Williams (Devon) -- increasing the number of registered competitors to 28.

Commenting after testing, Tincknell said: "This is only my second time at Thruxton so to put it on P1 is a great achievement especially as I'm still a Graduate. It's given me a massive confidence boost for the race but I'm also aware that I've still got a lot to learn so I'll just have to see how it goes."

Rounds three and four of the 2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship take place at Thruxton circuit on 25th/26th April.

-credit: frenault uk