Single seater racer Dan Wells has announced his graduation to the 2011 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship with series newcomers Antel Motorsport, after making his series debut in the 2010 Formula Renault UK Winter Series.
After making his karting debut in 2009, the Salisbury-based driver stepped up to the Formula Ford 1600 series in 2010 in a Van Diemen RF91. He picked up five class victories in eleven races, including a class win at the Formula Ford Carnival at Castle Combe. This alerted the attention of the Racing Steps Foundation, who selected him to compete with them in the Winter Series, but despite a solid campaign, he lost out on their funding for the 2011 campaign.
Wells explains: “Everything went well in preparation for the Winter Series, testing had gone well and I loved the new Renault car – I subsequently left Snetterton lying fifth in the standings. The second weekend did not go so well for me having made life difficult for myself by poor qualifying sessions. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t bitterly disappointed with the outcome, however, I learnt an enormous amount during my time with the RSF which I can take forward this year thanks to the help and support I have received since getting the bad news. The Racing Steps Foundation are extremely professional and I consider myself very grateful to have benefitted from their support.”
After losing the RSF funding, 19 year old Wells turned his attentions to finding other ways to get on the Formula Renault UK grid, leading him to the Antel Motorsport team. The relatively new team was set up in 2007 and has regularly competed in the Formula Renault BARC series since, with 2011 being their first assault on the Formula Renault UK Championship.
Wells, who is backed by Antel Ltd and Wallfast Ltd, added: “I’m absolutely delighted to have signed for Antel Motorsport. It was clear to me when I first tested a BARC car with the team in August 2009 that they have the passion, determination and technical expertise necessary in order to win. Myself, Brett Parris (Team Principal), Ross Curnow (Team Manager) and the rest of the guys get on really well and we are both looking forward to what will be our rookie season in Formula Renault UK.
“We will be doing everything we can do get up to speed as quickly as possible in order to challenge the established teams, but none of us our under any illusions. It will be a great challenge given the wealth of experience we are up against. That said, we are not there just to make up the numbers!”
