Lynn Handed Snetterton Double

Reigning Graduate Cup Champion Alex Lynn completed a perfect weekend in the opening rounds of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Winter Cup with victory in round two of the series. The youngster finished third on the road, but was handed the victory post-race, after race officials handed time penalties to top two finishers.

Koiranen Bros Motorsport's Russian ace Daniil Kvyat started the race on pole, with rookie Jack Hawksworth taking a superb second place, after starting the weekends earlier race on pole. Lynn lined up third in his Fortec Motorsport machine, with Kvyat's team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr completing row two.

Kvyat led away from the start, with a great start for Sainz moving him into second. However his joy was short lived, with the stewards deeming him to have jumped the start and handing him a drive through penalty. Enjoying a good start to the race were Atech GP's Richie Stanaway and MGR Motorsport's Luke Wright, both making up places through the field.

Kvyat began to build a lead at the front, with Hawksworth promoted to second following Sainz's drive through. He was closely pursued by Manor Competition pair Ollie Millroy and Josh Hill though, with Millroy getting the upper hand a couple of laps later for second, with Hill following suit soon after.

The fighting behind had allowed Kvyat to build a four second lead at the front, but this was wiped out with the introduction of the safety car to clear up accident debris. This led to the race's controversial moment. During the safety car period, the frontrunners caught BARC class runner Evelin Frank. With Frank suffering from mechanical woes and waving them through, the front two passed her, a move the stewards later reprimanded them for.

As they restarted, Millroy began to pressure Kvyat, looking for victory on a circuit he won on during the main championship. In third, Hill was on course for a podium finish on his debut weekend in the series, until an electrical problem forced him into retirement. Lynn benefited to move into third, followed by Wright.

Millroy continued to close on the leader, setting the NGK Fastest Lap in the process, but ran out of time, with 16 year old  Kvyat crossing the line to take the win on the road. Millroy followed 0.221s behind, with Lynn third and Wright fourth, a terrific performance after starting twelfth on the grid. Dan Wells finished an impressive fifth on his debut, with Josh Webster taking the BARC class honours in 14th, setting a new BARC lap record in the process.

After the race, a five second penalty for Kvyat and Millroy dropped them to third and fourth respectively. This gave Lynn the win, his second of the weekend, with Wright promoted to second.

Commenting on his weekend Lynn said: “Today was my first car racing win so it's very special to me. I've raced on this track earlier in the year and have more experience than some of the other drivers here which certainly helped. In the first race I was expecting a Safety Car period given we have so many new drivers while the back-markers are just something you have to deal with. In the second race I didn't get the best start or have a great first lap which put me on the defensive from then on. I managed to pick it up though and get back to the front and end a very good weekend.”

2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Winter Cup drivers' standings – Rd 2                                                                                                                                   

BARC Class – Rd 2