Interest in the 2011 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship continues to grow with more drivers announcing their participation in the single seater series. Josh Webster, Kieran Vernon and David Wagner are the latest trio to join the series, meaning more than twenty cars are set to take to the grid at the season opener at Donington Park.
17-year-old Webster returns to the series in which he finished fourth in last season, while 21-year-old Vernon will compete in the championship for the first time. The duo will complete a four-car line-up at Fortec Motorsport, joining Archie Hamilton and Victor Jiminez.
Webster, who won last year's BARC Winter Cup, said: “It feels good to be back, especially with the series boasting such strong grids and some very competitive drivers. I'm pleased to be back at Fortec too and we potentially have four drivers vying for the title so it will really push us and lead to some great racing.”
Former Formula Ford racer Vernon added: “It's fantastic to be out in the series this year. Due to my late deal, I will only have one test before the first rounds which will also be my first time in the car so I'm not expecting too much from the opening rounds. Hopefully I can develop quickly though and cause a few surprises early on.”
Scotsman Wagner also competed in last year's Winter Cup and has signed for MGR Motorsport, the 18 year old joining Matt Mason and Russell Danzey in a three car squad.
Wagner commented: “After a good Winter Cup campaign I'm really pleased to be back in Formula Renault and with a team like MGR Motorsport who I know will give me a good car.”
Organisers are expecting more drivers to join the series before the opening rounds, with reigning champions Hillspeed amongst those intending to run an extra car.
Championship Promoter Simon North added: “At the start of the year, we set ourselves a target of 20 cars and we're pleased to say we have already surpassed that with 21 confirmed entries and the possibility of more on the way.”
2011 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship Provisional Entry List:
#1 Howard Fuller Hillspeed
#2 Archie Hamilton Fortec Motorsport
#4 Kieran Vernon Fortec Motorsport
#5 Josh Webster Fortec Motorsport
#7 Callum Bowyer Antel Motorsport
#8 Dino Zamparelli Antel Motorsport
#9 Zaamin Jaffer Hillspeed
#14 Matt Mason MGR Motorsport
#17 Tom Walker JWA Racing
#18 Steven Durrant RPD Motorsport
#23 Russell Danzey MGR Motorsport
#25 Victor Jimenez Fortec Motorsport
#26 Macaulay Walsh SWB Motorsport
#27 Jack Dex SWB Motorsport
#28 Andrew Karman SWB Motorsport
#29 Raoul Owens SWB Motorsport
#33 Sean Walkinshaw Hillspeed
#35 Hector Hurst Scorpio Motorsport
#36 James Thorp MTech
#43 David Wagner MGR Motorsport
#55 Ivan Taranov Daytona Motorsport
