Strakka Racing has purchased two Formula Renault 2.0 cars and will enter rounds of this year’s Eurocup Series.
Race-winning Formula Renault 3.5 (FR3.5) Series competitors Strakka Racing will expand its single seater operations with the creation of an all-new Formula Renault 2.0 (FR2.0) team. The Silverstone-based squad collected two new chassis from the Alpine Renault factory in Dieppe and will commence a full testing programme next week ahead of an anticipated race debut at the Hungaroring in September.
The extension of the team into FR2.0 fills the gap between the new for 2014 Strakka Zanardi karting team and its existing FR3.5 squad on the single seater ladder. With another category in place, Strakka Racing and its Driver Support Programme, Strakka Performance, now offer a consistent and stable environment at each of the crucial early stages of a driver’s career and notably, at the critical step 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,” says team principal Dan 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.”
The cars will make their race debut at the Hungaroring in September.
With extensive single-seater experience, Lewis Williamson will conduct the initial shakedown at Pembrey. The team will then run at further tests for new drivers at Anglesey and Aragon. “Lewis is highly talented and will provide the initial feedback to engineers at the initial shakedown. 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.”
With the cars freshly purchased, drivers are yet to be confirmed but Strakka Racing is talking to both karters and junior single-seater racers to fill the two berths. “Tim Sugden is another recent addition to Strakka Racing, bringing twenty years’ of experience of both driver management and coaching,” says 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.”
The team has taken delivery of the two cars and will test next week at Pembrey.
Drivers wishing to discuss testing or 2015 drives with Strakka Racing, please contact tim.sugden@strakkaracing.com