2011 Finals Series Vice-Champion Dan Wells Celebrates With The Atech Reid GP Team - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
The 2011 Protyre Formula Renault 2.0 UK Finals Series provided a happy fortnight for Atech Reid GP, with the teams lead driver Dan Wells securing second position in the championship standings after a hard fought two races on the final weekend at Rockingham.
After a strong weekend at Snetterton last time out, Wells looked to challenge for wins at Rockingham. A disappointing qualifying session saw Wells only manage fifth, but he produced a great opening race, fighting back from a slow start to end the opening lap fourth, before securing third place for his third podium in five races. The second race proved tougher for Dan, the Salisbury-based driver only managing to take sixth, though it was enough to secure the runners up spot in the standings.
Wells said: “Today has been a mixed bag of emotion. We managed another podium in race one and the second race was all over the place with the amount of safety car periods, but I have finished second in the championship which is just brilliant for me and the team! I am really looking forward to next year!”
Team-mate Geoff Uhrhane enjoyed another competitive weekend, starting with qualifying, where he took thirteenth and fourteenth. After finishing the opening race twelfth, Uhrhane hoped for a strong end to the campaign and it started well, the Australian moving up four places and looking set for a solid top ten finish when a spinning rival ahead hit Geoff off circuit, ending his race there and then.
Uhrhane commented: “There was bound to be carnage in the last race of the series. To make up easy positions all you needed to do was stay consistent and out of trouble. I was able to do that until the dying stages of the race when I started to make a move on the driver ahead who then made a mistake and took us both out. It is really difficult in any series you race in to progress from the mid pack. The trick is to qualify at the front of the grid to stay out of the carnage. That will be my focus for the 2012 championship year.”
Team Principal Anthony Reid added: “The Finals Series has been fantastic for all our drivers. It has given them plenty of track time, fabulous racing experience and has been instrumental in building their racing confidence in time for the 2012 Championship season.
“It was great to share in so many podium celebrations with Dan and it was fabulous to see the improvement in Geoff after making the tricky transition from the Formula Ford category. He really improved his on track pace. Now we will be working on getting him quick on new rubber so he can showcase his pace at the front of the grid where he belongs.
“We have now secured two championship podiums after securing third place in the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship earlier this year with Tio Ellinas and now second position with Dan Wells. I think you can say that is a positive year.”
