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Podium for Simpson and a Fastest Lap for
Kimber-Smith at Brands Hatch
The UK Formula Renault Championship with Michelin came to an end this weekend the 1st and 2nd October 2005 at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent. In their final races with Team JLR, Stephen Simpson has a podium finish in third place and Tom Kimber-Smith a fastest lap.
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Stephen on the grid |
Team JLR Formula Ford racer Joe D'Agostino joined the Team's Formula Renualt outfit for his second weekend in the car after his debut at Donington Park. Further demonstrating his pace, the young rookie put his car on Pole Position during qualifying on two occasions during the session but was unable to sustain the position, taking a 7th grid slot for round 19.
A wet track on the Saturday for round 19 proved to provide plenty of on-track entertainment. Kimber-Smith ran his car home from 11th to 6th place and setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:32.989 on lap 15.
In his penultimate race, Simpson had his third 3rd place finish of the season after a battle with Alex Storckenfeldt.
D'Agostino's first wet start in a Formula Renault car was even more challenging for the Floridian, having to recover his car to 15th place after an incident with Rodolfo Gonzalez. " I didn't have a clue what to expect [in the wet]. I just got in and just had to find my way" the young Floridian told Team JLR afterwards. "I just tried to be safe and bring the car home."
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Kleeneze guests of Team JLR |
Over 100 Team JLR guests attended the circuit on race day (Sunday) to enjoy the hospitality, get up-close to the drivers and the cars, and to see for themselves, some of the exciting racing each driver has provided throughout the season.
Qualifying positions for round 20 meant Kimber-Smith and D'Agostino had some work to do in the race, starting in 15th and 16th place respectively. 20 year old Kimber-Smith was working his way through the field until Jean Robert Nigoret collided with the rear of Kimber-Smith at Druids sending the two of them and Gonzalez into the gravel thus prematurely ending Kimber-smith's charge.
D'Agostino applied pressure to his race rivals all the way to the chequered flag to take 10th , whilst Simpson - who drove on the same circuit the previous week for South Africa in the new A1 GP series - was unable to improve on his qualifying position of 5th place.
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Tom and Joe at Brands |
"I would have like to have ended [the season] on a higher note mainly for the team" said Stephen. We were quick enough to be on pole position for both of the races but it didn't work out that way. The highlight for me has been when I finished third yesterday."
After 20 races at 10 circuits over 6 months, the 2005 Formula Renault Championship has been decided.
Finally, from Simpson: "It does feel very strange coming to the end of another year. It will feel a bit strange driving back this evening knowing there's no race to come back to or Team JLR to come back to."
Meanwhile, Team JLR's Formula Ford outfit will have its final rounds at Silverstone this weekend where Joe D'Agostino will be back on track with his Team-mates Jonny Baker and Thor-Christian Ebbesvik.
Hear from Stephen Simpson after his final Formula Renault race
Joe D'Agostino speaks about his weekend, his F3 test
and the up an coming FFord race this weekend
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