RENAULT F1 TEST FOR WILCOX AND PEARSON!

Formula Renault BARC Championship leaders Nick Wilcox (Camberley, Surrey) and Ian Pearson (Didcot, Oxon) came away from the latest rounds of the series at Pembrey yesterday with a very special prize, having won a behind the scenes visit to an exclusive test by the Renault F1 team at Silverstone on Wednesday, 1st June.

Nick and Ian will see Renault F1 Team drivers Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella putting the race-winning Renault R25 Formula One car through its paces, have an exclusive tour of the pit garages and take lunch with the world championship leaders.

Wilcox came away from Wales with a healthy 14 point lead over chief rivals Falcon Motorsport’s Matt Russell (Harlesden, London) and Team Nasamax driver Dean Stirling (Shamley Green, Guildford) who are tied for second place in the FR2000 Class. Nick finished Saturday’s third round in third place but followed that up with a dominant fourth round win on Sunday in his Etek-entered car.

Russell will count himself unlucky to have missed the F1 test having taken his first ever race win in Saturday’s third round. Starting from the second row of the grid Russell got into the lead by the end of the first of the 18-laps but had to fend off a strong challenge from Stirling until the Team Nasamax driver spun whilst trying to grab the lead.

Wilcox stamped his authority on Sunday’s fourth round and starting from pole position was never headed as he took a dominant lights-to-flag victory ahead of second-placed Stirling. Russell had started from the front row but his challenge ended when he spun at the Esses into retirement, leaving Frenchman Pierre Renom (London) to claim his first podium of the season.

Cameron Jackson (Scampton) looked set to break Pearson’s dominant run in the Club Class categaory, when the 18-year old qualified on the front row of the grid for Saturday’s race. However, on a damp track Pearson showed his class and came through to win in his family-run Tatuus RC97/Renault. Ian started Sunday’s race on the class pole as Cameron hit mechanical trouble on the warm-up lap and had to start the race from the back of the grid. Sadly, the youngster retired leaving Pearson to cruise to his fourth consecutive win ahead of Martin Bloss (Andover).

Provisional 2005 Formula Renault BARC Championship Driver Standings – after Rd 4.

FR 2000 Class: 1st Nick Wilcox, 55pts; = 2nd Matt Russell, Dean Stirling, 41pts.

Club Class: 1st Ian Pearson, 67pts; 2nd Martin Bloss, 34pts; 3rd Cameron Jackson,  21pts.