FORMULA BMW UK AT CROFT

QUAIFE-HOBBS ROLLS DOUBLE SIX AT CROFT

Tonbridge racing driver, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, managed to overcome a down on power engine throughout the early part of the weekend to bag two sixth place finishes, in the latest rounds of the Formula BMW Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire.

The 16-year-old MSA British Race Elite driver had struggled to match his rival's straight line speed during the two qualifying sessions on Saturday, meaning that he had to settle for 10th and seventh on the grid for the two races on Sunday. After studying the data the BMW engine technicians found the engine to have a minor fault and it was duly changed overnight.

In race one Adrian had to concede his tenth place starting position, dropping down to 11th at the end of the opening lap. However, a superb fight-back through the field started on lap two, as he worked his way up to sixth place at the chequered flag.

His pace was certainly back as he managed to set the fastest lap of the race midway through race one, only to have it beaten right at the end of the race by one of his rivals, by just a couple of tenths of a second.

In race two, with a higher starting position, he was able to stay with the leading pack right from the start and moved into sixth place on the opening lap. However, he struggled for grip in the early stages of the 15-lap race and was unable to get into a position to challenge for a higher place until midway through.

A mistake by rival Kimiya Sato allowed him through into fifth place and it looked like Adrian would be able to challenge for fourth too. However, on the final lap he ran slightly wide on the entry to the first corner and it allowed Sato a run on him into the next corner, dropping him back into another sixth place result.

“It was frustrating at the start of the weekend to be so far back on the grid,” said Adrian. “But, once we found out the engine was at fault I knew that I would be able to challenge in the races.”

“I had to work hard in the first race and I'm pleased to have got up into the top six. I'm pleased with both my results, to be honest, from where I started in each race. I managed to pick up more points and the car was really good during the races too, which is great,” he added.

The youngster now has a three week break before the next rounds of the championship, at Oulton Park in Cheshire. However, between the two rounds his time will be taken up with sitting all of his GCSE exams!

ENDS

Formula BMW Championship
Round Seven - Results

1 Kimiya Sato 21m 06.990s
2 Marcus Ericsson 21m 07.832s
3 Josef Kral 21m 09.376s
4 Valle Makela 21m 12.546s
5 Henry Arundel 21m 13.851s
6 Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 21m 15.376s

Formula BMW Championship
Round Eight - Results
1 Josef Kral 21m 01.351s
2 Marcus Ericsson 21m 05.895s
3 Henry Surtees 21m 06.406s
4 Henry Arundel 21m 10.445s
5 Kimiya Sato 21m 11.204s
6 Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 21m 11.625s