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| MGR's team has steered many teams to success over the years, 2013 should be no exception |
Protyre
Formula Renault (Formerly Formula Renault BARC) Championship front-runner Chris Middlehurst (St.
Helens), second year competitor Tom Oliphant (Tarporley, Cheshire)
and series newcomer Matteo Ferrer (Ipswich) are the first three
drivers confirmed for MGR Motorsport’s 2013 assault on the 16-round
season.
With
plans to field a four car squad currently in advanced stages, as the
Bardon team continues discussions regarding its final vacant seat
with a number of drivers, MGR is delighted to confirm its first three
signings.
Middlehurst
enjoyed a strong debut season in Protyre Formula Renault last year,
ending the main campaign ninth overall with two podiums to his credit
before going on to mount a strong challenge in the Winter Series
where he took two further rostrums from the four races contested.
The
18-year-old, son of former racer Andy Middlehurst, will certainly be
a championship challenger this season and will be aiming to secure
his maiden race victory in the category. His best result so far of
second place came during the opening weekend of the 2012 Winter
Series.
Oliphant,
like Middlehurst, will be embarking on his second season in Protyre
Formula Renault this year and the 22-year-old will be hoping to
continue where he left off with Leicestershire-based MGR during the
final event of last November’s Winter Series.
After
a difficult main championship campaign, Oliphant moved to the Mark
Godwin-led team for the Rockingham rounds of the Winter Series and
showed a marked improvement by achieving a career best finish of
seventh place.
Protyre
Formula Renault newcomer Ferrer, who is of Venezuelan, German and
Italian heritage, had no previous karting experience prior to his
motorsport debut last year in the now defunct InterSteps Championship
but developed significantly as the season wore on.
Ending
the year eighth overall in the driver standings, Ferrer is now
preparing for a major step-up in competitiveness and has
already made a strong impression on MGR team principal Godwin during
initial winter test outings.
"I
watched Matteo develop during the 2012 Intersteps Championship, and
was really quite impressed considering his complete lack of
experience”, said Godwin, “From what I saw during our winter
testing in Valencia, I believe we can look forward to a very
competitive year. Tom has looked strong in winter testing and we’re
confident he’s going to have a good season, he did a great job with
us in the Winter Series considering how much he had to adapt to the
new car and team.
“We’re
very confident Chris will be challenging up at the front from the
off, what he achieved last year was very impressive – especially
towards the end of the main season and in the Winter Series. We’re
sure, with our determined and structured approach, that Chris will be
a strong contender.”
Rounds
one and two of the 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship will
take place on 13th/14th April at Donington Park National Circuit in
Leicestershire – MGR’s home track. Before then, teams and drivers
will take part in the official ‘Media Day’ at Silverstone on
Thursday, 21st March.
Commenting
on MGR’s signings, championship promoter Simon North said: “MGR
is obviously one of the most competitive and well run teams in
Protyre Formula Renault and we’re delighted Mark [Godwin] has
confirmed three drivers already for the new season. Knowing a fourth
car is also highly likely with the team is fantastic news for the
championship.”
Along
with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault is additionally
supported by Michelin, The Lubricant Consultancy, Petronas Syntium
and NGK Spark Plugs.
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