MSA FORMULA RACES INTO DONINGTON


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Frank Bird will hope for a strong result this weekend – Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Battle is ready to recommence in Ford MSA Formula this weekend at Donington Park (16/17 April) after a thrilling opening three rounds of 2016.

Carlin’s Max Fewtrell and James Pull are looking to build on their strong starts to the season at a circuit where they have both excelled; Fewtrell having claimed top honours in pre-season testing and Pull collecting a brace of podiums last season.

Championship leader and double race winner Petru Florescu is all set to add to his victory tally and Devlin DeFrancesco is targeting a positive weekend having topped the times in testing at Thruxton last week.

JHR Developments drivers Billy Monger and Jack Butel are also eyeing up big points scores after excellent showings at the same test.

Sennan Fielding returns to his home track on the back of an incredible win in a rain-hit race at Brands Hatch and will look to make home advantage count in his bid to the take the championship lead.

Ginetta Junior Champion Jamie Caroline provided plenty of fireworks in the inaugural rounds with some audacious overtaking and steadfast defensive driving in difficult conditions. He’s sure to provide plenty more entertainment this weekend with his Jamun Racing team-mate Harry Hayek also likely to get in on the act.

Fellow Australian Zane Goddard is the sole runner for Double R this weekend, with Carrie Schreiner having German F4 commitments in Oschersleben. After a solid series debut, Zane is aiming to build on his pre-season testing form at Donington and take the fight to Carlin’s drivers in the championship.

Another Australian F4 graduate who has impressed from the outset is TRS Arden’s Luis Leeds. The Red Bull Junior driver landed a maiden podium at Brands and is looking to stand on the top step this weekend.

Team-mate Rafael Martins showed flashes of brilliance in the opening rounds and followed up with an emphatic performance in the Thruxton test, topping the morning session and remaining on the pace throughout.

Ayrton Simmons’ wait for his 15th birthday and first Ford MSA Formula race continues, but he will take part in testing tomorrow. Having been consistently near the top of the times in the pre-Brands test, he’s a driver everyone will be keeping an eye on before his competitive debut next month.

Jack Martin will try to hit back in the Rookie Cup this weekend and prevent Fortec Motorsport’s Nicolai Kjaergaard, Ross Martin and Alex Quinn from stealing a march in the standings. The latter riding on a high having taken a clean sweep of Rookie victories so far.

Meanwhile Fortec’s Frank Bird and JTR’s Patrik Matthiesen both want to score their first points of the season at the Leicestershire circuit.

Donington’s action-packed weekend gets underway with Ford MSA Formula testing tomorrow, followed by official qualifying on Saturday morning and round four of the championship Saturday afternoon. Two further 20-minute races follow on Sunday, with the final Ford EcoBoost-powered race of the weekend scheduled for transmission during the ever-popular live BTCC show on ITV4.

Alex Battipaglia


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