The successful Strakka Racing team have purchased two Formula Renault 2.0 cars with a view to racing them in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Series, starting later this year.
The Formula Renault 3.5 Series race winners, who have Briton Will Stevens and Finnish driver Matias Lainé competing for them in 2014, have expanded its single seater commitments after the Silverstone-based team acquired two new chassis from the Alpine Renault factory in Dieppe.
The team are hopeful of debuting in the series when it races in Hungary in September, and a full testing programme will occur before its debut. Lewis Williamson, a very talented Scottish driver who strangely is without a drive in 2014 in ANY series, will undertake the initial shakedown of the two chassis at their Pembrey test track.
“Lewis is highly talented and will provide the initial feedback to engineers at the initial shakedown,” said Team Principal Dan Walmsley. “In parallel, we are already running a FR2.0 model on our own simulator so by the time we put our drivers in the car, we will be ready.”
The extension of the team into Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 means the gap between the recently-formed Strakka Zanardi karting team and the Formula Renault 3.5 Series squad is filled. Strakka Performance, the team’s Driver Support Programme, can now offer a ‘consistent and stable environment’ at each step of a young driver’s career, including the difficult transition from karting to cars.
“Strakka Racing has a vision to provide drivers with support on and off the track and this is now coming together with the karting, FR2.0 teams and our growing Performance Centre,” added Walmsley. “The latter encompasses simulation and data, fitness, nutrition, driver coaching and if needed, driver management.
“We believe that this in-house support, available for a driver serious about competing on these first rungs of the motorsport ladder is unparalleled.”
No drivers are confirmed to join the team as of yet, but any doubts about the commitment to the series and to single seater racing of Strakka Racing should be extinguished by the confirmation of former British Touring Car Championship driver and multiple Le Mans 24 Hour competitor Tim Sugden to its team.
“Tim Sugden is another recent addition to Strakka Racing, bringing twenty years’ of experience of both driver management and coaching,” said Walmsley. “Having done it all himself, seen everything and helped many successful drivers to progress, such as our own Will Stevens, he brings that trusted support element that junior drivers need to gain confidence and speed. He is already in discussions with a few good people to sign.”
