FRenault, Donington

[Kicking-back]

Entertaining race, that - a good battle for the lead.

Well done Paddy Hogan.

[Sato san]

Good race indeed , although , he was very lucky to have kept then lead after nearly throwing it away at Goddards ( ?? )

nice to see some good wheel to wheel competition ,i enjoyed the race , but felt desperatly sorry for Morrow though , luck like that just isnt needed so early in the season .

[Ian Sowman]

What happened to Jamie?

[Sato san]

looked like he lost his engine , flames and smoke heavily out the back .

[Dr Venom]

what was the result guys.....?

[Kicking-back]

1. P Hogan
2. O Jarvis
3. S Hothenthal

[Russfeld]

Who was the Fortec car that was getting swamped in the early laps? I thought it was Hothenthal at first

[No 4]

Ian, Sato San,

Jamie's problems started before the warm-up lap, in that his display was showing he was in 2nd, so he dropped to 1st for the off, only to find he was actually in neutral!!! All of which meant he lost places on the grid and he started sometnhing like 23rd instead of 18th.

The engine blew around lap 6, 3 con rods through the casing on the off-side and one through on the other side. Couldn't get it changed for race 2, so all in all a very disapointing day for him. However, I guess that's motorsport, cliche, but true, so it's onward and upward to Thruxton.

[Speedfreak]

Does anyone know what this mean (and if it has any consequences)?

Race 2:
Car 4 - Faulty transponder wiring

[Dr Venom]

No4,

Sorry to hear that, lets look forward to the next round and hope that jamie has a bit better luck.

[strider]

The transponder is the electronic gizmo that identifies the car to the MST timing system. They do fail to work from time, although it's not always due to faulty wiring. The system has a back-up built into it, although MST don't like having to use it because they can't then go fully automatic!

Apart from that there wouldn't have been any consequences - it wouldn't make the car any faster or slower, nor affect the times.

[Mike.ca]

Does anyone have, or know where I might find, the full results?

[manicmarshal]

Mike,

msttiming.com has the results of all the races. assuming the transponders are working!

[rdjones]

I enjoy both FRenault races yesterday, it looks like we are going to be in for a close years racing.

[No 4]

Agreed, and what's more, contrary to waht people normally say about Formula Renault, we may even get some overtaking along the way!!!

[No 4]

'what' even!!!!!

[Sato san]

Originally Posted by Dr Venom

No4,

Sorry to hear that, lets look forward to the next round and hope that jamie has a bit better luck.

yes , i'll second that . Roll on Thruxton .

[Gaz]

Awesome racing all the way down the field yesterday, especially that first race which is probably the best Renault race I've seen in a long time.

There really are so many potential winners of both races and titles this season! I'm cheering for Sean McIntosh and Alex Storckenfeldt but whoever wins it is going to have to work damn hard for it, and will thoroughly deserve the title come October!

Roll on Thruxton, and more of the same please!

[No 4]

Gaz - I'd agree with that. Even Jamie contributed to the spectacle - lots of smoke and gushing flame, made for good live TV. However, I'm sure he would have preferred to finish, rather than provide the track-side entertainment!!!

[Gaz]

I just hope its bad luck and not the engineering of the cars No4. I did warn you that i had sources who indicated to me the weaknesses of Hillspeed and their preparations pre-season. I've noticed and read from yourself that many of Jamie's problems have been mechanical related...just hope for your sakes it is just bad luck!

Josh Weber should surely be running higher as well considering his experience in the formulae?

[No 4]

Gaz - lets be absolutely clear, I'm not blaming Hillspeed in any way for what happened last yesterday. The engine that went had been back to Renault's new engine supplier and, like all the others in the series, checked over, etc. As of yesterday it had only done some 1,500 kms since.

As for testing problems, a good many of these, have been down to newly fitted, straight out of the pack parts, malfunctioning. For example, at Thruxton there was an electrical problem, which even the Renault guys (for a long time) couldn't sort out. In the end, it turned out to be a relay in a box that had only been fitted the previous week.

I'm sure Josh can speak for himself. However, as far as Hillspeed are concerned Jamie and I have been impressed with their professionalism, so with repect to your 'sources', I think they've got it wrong.

[Gaz]

Well, we'll see but not many other cars have been blowing engines and have had so many teething problems.

My sources are two drivers, one of whom has driven for one of the top teams in Renault. He tested the Hillspeed car and deemed it undriveable in comparison.

I hope Hillspeed are doing you a cracking job and I hope Jamie gets some good results in this year just feel you should be aware and not be completely blinkered to experiences from drivers who have driven with them in the very near past. The lack of pace from Weber suggests theres issues.

By no way do I see him as a title contender but in his second season of Renault after running with Manor last season and 1-2 good results I'd have expected him to be running much higher than he is....

[No 4]

Gaz - I was talking to the owner of one of the leading teams and he told me he had 3 engines blow in the same way last season, so the problem is not limited to Hillspeed.

Jamie has also tested with 2 of the top teams and says there is little difference between their cars and Hillspeed's.

With regard to Josh, as I said, not for me to comment on his performances - except to say, he comes accross as a likable, focussed guy.

[Right Of Way]

I think the stars of the show were Stuart Hall and Oliver Jarvis. Firstly for the massive improvement in form, I’ve watched both drivers in Fords and last years Renault and I have to admit never being that impressed with either drivers performance, both occasionally showed signs of talent but often let themselves down my making silly mistakes. However on their performances at the weekend it seems that both have come along way as they showed great maturity and talent! Secondly, for proving that overtaking is possible in Formula Renault, and that the races can be entertaining. I really hope that Hall and Jarvis can keep this form going throughout the season and challenge for the title, Good work lads!!

[Jerry76]

ive just been looking over the results from the Thursday test and the qualifying for the first race and was mega impressed, and some what suprised at Jody Firth's pace. Does anyone have a insight as to why he was so fast?

Although his inexperience showed in the two races, by first getting a nudge into the Old Hairpin in race one, and then spinning at McCleans all by himself, he really showed that the pre-season test at Oulton Park is maybe the start of something. We may have to watch that space....