Exeter youngster Harry Tincknell showed why he is considered one of the favourites to win the 2010 Formula Renault UK after topping the times during the latest official timed test for the Formula Renault entrants.
Tincknell, who returns with CRS Racing for the season, topped the times after setting the quickest time of the test during the final session of the second day, his best time being a 1m14.627s, an average speed of 93.48mph. This session topping time beat the time which Tincknell set in the afternoon session of the opening day, when he set a 1m14.705, with an average speed of 93.48mph.
Behind the flying Tincknell was Manor Competition's 21 year old Scot, Lewis Williamson, who set a fastest lap time of 1m14.837s, an average speed of 93.32mph. Williamson's best time came during the afternoon session of the opening day.
Third overall in the combined timings was Tama's Pa'l Kiss, who set his best time in the final session of the test, a 1m14.927s, an average speed of 93.20mph.
The fastest graduate cup runner was Brazilian Fabio Gamberini of Mark Burdett Motorsport, whose fastest time saw him classified 9th overall, with his fastest lap being a 1m15.220s, while the fastest Protyres Formula Renault BARC runner was Luke Wright. The BARC Formula Renault Championship joined the main Championship test for the opening day.
The opening session of the two day test saw the son of Rally legend Stig Blomqvist, Tom, top the times from the impressive Pa'l Kiss, the fastest time being a 1m15.523s, while Pa'l Kiss set a 1m15.550.
The afternoon session saw Tincknell set the pace, and with a 1m14.705s, secured top spot by just over a tenth of a second ahead of Williamson. Tincknell also got well inside the lap record for the Rockingham track, which Dean Smith set with a 1m15.935s.
The Graduate cup honours were shared between Gamberini and Alex Lynn, and the BARC honours were shared between Joseph Reilly and Luke Wright, Wright ended the day with the fastest BARC time, a 1m17.314s.
Day two – Williamson started the day on the front foot and set the fastest time during the morning session, setting a fastest time of 1m15.072mph (93.02mph average speed), with Tincknell, Pa'l Kiss, and Blomqvist behind the Golspie based racer. Alex Lynn topped the Graduate cup timings.
The fourth and final session saw Tincknell set the fastest time over the 2 days, and ended three tenths of a second quicker than Pa'l Kiss. His fastest lap was achieved on the 22nd of his 25 lap session. The fastest Graduate runner was Brazilian Gamberini.
Speaking after the second day, Tincknell said: “The test has gone really well for us and the car is running well. As with the previous official tests we've been careful to conserve our tyres by limiting the number of laps run, but to still go top is very encouraging. I'm enjoying driving the new car and looking forward to the start of the season.”
The next test for the Formula Renault UK field is at Snetterton on the 23rd and 24th March, ahead of the Thruxton weekend on the 3rd and 4th April. Thruxton sees the opening rounds of the 2010 Championship, in support of the British Touring Car Championship.
Photo credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
