Archie Hamilton Just Missed Out On The BARC Class Title - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Archie Hamilton lost out on the 2011 Protyre Formula Renault Finals Series BARC class title during the final weekend at Rockingham when the Fortec Motorsport star was pushed out of the last race of the weekend.
20 year old Hamilton headed into the two races at Rockingham knowing two finishes would give him the title. A set up mistake in qualifying saw him struggle, but the Basingstoke-based racer made up for it in race one, working his way through to take third place, his fifth podium out of five starts.
This gave Archie a 19 point lead heading into the final race, meaning just a finish was needed. Understandly cautious, Hamilton looked to just finish, but an early safety car bunched him up with several of the faster 'TOCA' class cars who were coming up from the front. At the restart, Archie was suddenly hit from the behind, catapulting him into the gravel trap and out of the race, ending his title hopes.
Hamilton, who eventually finished runner up in the BARC points, said: “I'm devastated. In a way it would have been easier if I had made a mistake, but to lose a title, when I had been so close to taking it, by needless poor driving is hard to take. I had thought about starting from the pit lane and following everyone from the back but that didn't seem very sporting – now I just wish I had. I have to take away the three wins and five podiums from six races. I have made a lot of progress this season and I intend to make even more in 2012.”
