Manor Competition have announced their fourth and final driver ahead of the 2010 Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin. The team, which took Dean Smith to the drivers title have signed Northern Ireland youngster Josh Mulholland to compete alongside Thomas Hylkema, Will Stevens and Lewis Williamson.
Mulholland, who had his first full season of car racing last season in the Protyres Formula Renault BARC Championship, was a constant front runner and ended the season with 2 race wins, another 4 podium finishes and a brace of poles to his name as he finished 4th overall. This performance impressed Tony Shaw, and he had this to say: “Josh did a great job in BARC last year and his arrival in the Manor fold alongside Lewis, Will and Thomas gives us perhaps our strongest ever team. We're delighted.”
Josh's testing performances thus far have showed a huge amount of promise, and this promise has impressed the co-owner of the team, Tony Shaw.
Tony had this to say about Josh: “We're thrilled to bits to be able to confirm Josh as our fourth signing, he's done an absolutely cracking job in testing with us so far and we're certain he'll adapt well to the increase in competitiveness in Formula Renault UK”
The youngster, from County Antrim, had a stellar karting career before the car racing career move, and 2008 saw him end up as Irish 'O' Plate Rotax Max Winner, the Rotax Max All Ireland Karting Champion, the Rotax Max Race of Champions Winner and the Irish Kart Grand Prix Winner.
Josh, who is backed by Mulholland Scrap Metals, commented on his graduation into the Formula Renault UK Championship, saying: “I'm very pleased to be joining Manor, it really is fantastic news. Last season in BARC went very well for me but we're under no illusions as to how challenging and competitive Formula Renault UK is. I'm 100% focused and committed and really looking forward to working and competing alongside Thomas, Lewis and Will.”
The new for 2010 Formula Renault 2.0 car, which has 210 BHP, a 7 speed sequential gearbox, with steering wheel mounted paddle shift controls, a new chassis and aerodynamics, and unofficial timings show that this new car will be a lot faster than the old car, which Josh and the Manor team will continue to test firstly in the UK before heading to Valencia in Spain, before heading to Brands Hatch for the first official timed session of the 2010 pre season on the 2nd and 3rd March.
The opening rounds of the 2010 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship take place at Thruxton, Hampshire on the 3rd and 4th April.
