The 2010 Formula Renault UK with Michelin has released its official entry list ahead of the opening rounds of the Championship, which happen at Thruxton, Hampshire, this coming weekend.
18 cars have been registered for the Championship, with a number of new drivers and series returnees coming from all over the world – drivers from as far away at The Philippines and Brazil will race this season.
The official pre season timings have shown that the battle for the title will be a close run thing, with 4 drivers always being towards the top of the timings:
- Harry Tincknell, CRS Racing
- Will Stevens, Manor Competition
- Lewis Williamson, Manor Competition
- Tama's Pa'l Kiss, ATech GP
The 2010 Formula Renault Championship sees a new car introduced, which is more akin to a British Formula 3 car, and the testing times have seen a number of lap records being smashed.
The Graduate Cup sees a reduced entry, with Mark Burdetts Brazilian Fabio Gamberini and Britain's Alex Lynn, who'll race for Fortec Motorsport being the only registered entrants.
2010 title favourite Harry Tincknell has returned with CRS Racing, who he took the Winter Series title with in 2009, the 2010 season, has similarities to 2008 when CRS took the title with Adam Christodoulou.
2009 Champions Manor Competition have signed the 2009 graduate cup vice champion, Will Stevens to spearhead their attack on the Championship, and will have support from former CRS Racing pilot Lewis Williamson.
The surprise from testing is Hungarian Tama's Pa'l Kiss of ATech GP (Formally Hitech Junior), and will be the dark horse for the title.
Fortec Motorsport will be looking to 16 year old Tom Blomqvist to lead their charge; the Swedish youngster took a win during the Winter Series at Rockingham. Blomqvist is the son of rally legend Stig.
With 18 rapid, ambitious young racing drivers registered for the Championship, the scene is set for a very competitive and hard fought season of Formula Renault.
The confirmed entry list for the 2010 Formula Renault UK Championship:
| Number | Driver | Nationality | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Mulholland | GBR | Manor Competition |
| 2 | Michael Lyons | GBR | CRS Racing |
| 3 | Will Stevens | GBR | Manor Competition |
| 5 | Harry Tincknell | GBR | CRS Racing |
| 7 | Thomas Hylkema | NED | Manor Competition |
| 8 | Joe Crook | GBR | Scorpio Motorsport |
| 10 | Tom Blomqvist | SWE | Fortec Motorsport |
| 12 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Atech GP |
| 15 | Victor Correa | BRA | CRS Racing |
| 17 | Lewis Williamson | GBR | Manor Competition |
| 21 | Fabio Gamberini (G) | BRA | Mark Burdett Motorsport |
| 22 | Jessie Laine | FIN | Mark Burdett Motorsport |
| 27 | Ollie Millroy | GBR | Fortec Motorsport |
| 33 | Marlon Stockinger | PHI | Atech GP |
| 36 | Alex Lynn (G) | GBR | Fortec Motorsport |
| 47 | Tama’s Pa’l Kiss | HUN | Atech GP |
| 55 | Robert Foster-Jones | GBR | CRS Racing |
| 99 | Chrissy Palmer | GBR | Fortec Motorsport |
The Formula Renault UK Championship kicks off this weekend at Thruxton, the first of 10 race weekends, of which 9 support the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and one alongside the World Series by Renault event at Silverstone.
The first qualifying session of the Formula Renault season takes place at 9am Saturday morning, with the second session at 1.50pm, with the opening race of the season at 5.35pm Saturday. Race 2 is live on ITV 4, as part of the live BTCC coverage, with the race due to start at 3.05pm.
