TITLE CONTENDER SMITH LEADS MANOR CHARGE AT SILVERSTONE GP TRACK

The 21-year-old just missed out on the pair of front row starts he was hoping for with his best lap, a time of 1m46.646 seconds (173.5km/h), placing him fifth on the grid for Sunday morning’s race and his second quickest lap of 1m46.762 seconds securing a second row start for race two in fourth spot.
 
Underlining the competitiveness of the championship, on a track as long as the 3.2-mile GP layout the top 14 drivers were still only covered by just a single second with the fastest eight split by a mere 0.259 seconds.
 
Thomas Hylkema was the second quickest of Manor’s contingent with a lap of 1m47.313 seconds (172.4km/h) placing him 12th on the grid for round 11. The Dutch racer’s second best time of 1m47.948 seconds means he will begin round 12 one spot further back in 13th place.
 
Team-mate David McDonald was very evenly matched with Hylkema, just nine 100ths of a second separating the pair in terms of their best laps. The Surrey teenager’s quickest time of 1m47.407 seconds (172.3km/h) securing 13th on the grid for the opening encounter. However, on the round 12 grid, McDonald will start in an improved 11th place thanks to a second best lap of 1m47.525 seconds.
 
Single-seater rookie Alice Powell will begin both of the weekend’s races from the 12th row of the grid after posting laps of 1m48.312 seconds (170.8km/h) and 1m48.776 seconds. Getting quicker and quicker throughout the session, the 16-year-old will be bidding for further progress tomorrow at her most local venue.
 
Round 11 of the 2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship will get underway at 09.00 tomorrow, Sunday, 5th July, with the 12th round of the campaign beginning at around 16.50.
 
2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship Standings (after Rd10):
3rd Dean Smith, 208pts; 12th David McDonald, 101pts; 14th Thomas Hylkema, 70pts; 19th Alice Powell, 49pts
 
2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK ‘Graduate Cup’ Standings (after Rd10):
6th Alice Powell, 49pts
 
2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Team Standings (after Rd10):
3rd Manor Competition, 341pts