12/13/2007

New Look Seven Event Calendar Boosts Value Of Formula Renault BARC Calendar

Brands Hatch will host the opening two rounds of the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship, with the curtain-raiser taking place on the Indy Circuit at Easter weekend in March. The 2008 Championship has a new look with one less race meeting than before but the same 12-round programme comprising five double-headers and two single-race meetings, culminating at Silverstone in October.

In 2007 the Championship saw capacity grids at several rounds leading to a limit of 36 registrations being introduced for 2008. A pre-registration process has seen interest for more than 40 cars to take a place on the grid, with both the FR2000 Class and Club Class attracting unprecedented interest. Now established as a valuable first step on the single-seater career ladder, using carbon-fibre chassis that are almost identical to those raced in the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship, the low-cost series is entering its fourth season under the wing of Renault Sport UK.

Rounds one and two take place at the famous Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent on 23rd/24th March with rounds three and four on 19th/20th April as Northamptonshire’s Rockingham Motor Speedway makes its return to the Formula Renault BARC Championship calendar, just one week after the Formula Renault UK Championship races at the same venue.

The first single-header takes place Cheshire’s narrow Oulton Park Island circuit on Saturday, 24th May, while North Yorkshire’s Croft circuit hosts rounds six and seven on 19th/20th July. The Championship then visits two high-speed circuits with rounds eight and nine at Snetterton on 9th/10th August and round 10 at Thruxton on Sunday, 7th September.

Silverstone National circuit, which has previously been the venue for the opening rounds, plays host to the Championship finale with rounds 11 and 12 on 4th/5th October. In 2007, Hywel Lloyd (Corwen) won the title by just one point from Dean Stoneman (Southampton) after winning the final round and the wide circuit at the home of the British Grand Prix raises the prospect of another thrilling climax.

At all double-header meetings, the provisional timetables allow for qualifying to be held on the Saturday, with both races taking place on Sunday.

Commenting on the calendar announcement, Championship Manager Simon North said: “We are delighted to announce the 2008 race programme that has been agreed with the BARC and look forward to a season of exciting racing. Brands Hatch is an ideal venue to kick-start the season and the return to Rockingham will be keenly anticipated. Last season saw an enthralling final race with the champion only confirmed on the final lap and I hope this can be repeated in 2008.”

2008 provisional Formula Renault BARC Championship calendar:

Rounds 1 & 2  23rd/24th March Brands Hatch Indy
Rounds 3 & 4  19th/20th April  Rockingham
Round 5  24th May  Oulton Park Island
Rounds 6 & 7  19th/20th July  Croft
Rounds 8 & 9  9th/10th August  Snetterton
Round 10  7th September  Thruxton
Rounds 11 & 12 4th/5th October  Silverstone National