Fortec Duo Share Spoils at Rockingham
Oliver Rowland and Alex Lynn shared race wins at Rockingham in the CERTINA Formula Renault UK Championship, after the Fortec pair took convincing victories in rounds fifteen and sixteen.
In the first race of the day, Rowland scored his maiden win in devastating fashion. The 19-year-old took victory by over ten seconds from team-mate Mitchell Gilbert. His impressive lights to flag victory included a safety car period for an early race incident, but Rowland kept his composure throughout.
“To win this race is absolutely mega,” said the Racing Steps Foundation backed Rowland. “I struggled off the line and it looked like Gilbert had got in front, luckily I managed to fight back on the inside and get back into first on the second corner. From then on it was just about pushing as hard as I could, which worked perfectly.”
Gilbert was happy with his second place in race one, a race he briefly led.
“I thought that I could take the lead at the start as I got off the line brilliantly,” said Gilbert speaking after his first race. “I guess that I didn’t close enough and unfortunately that allowed Rowland to go back through on the inside. As the race went on I struggled for pace and it soon became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to catch him. I’m happy to get second.”
Following the Fortec pair was the Atech Reid GP duo of Tio Ellinas and Dan Wells. Both failed to make ground on their qualifying positions but impressed during the race as they kept Gilbert honest.
Championship leader Lynn started from the back after an off in qualifying, and the race was one to forget for the Essex teenager who turned 18 on Saturday.
After charging through the field in the early stages, a spin cost Lynn dear. He slipped from fifth to last, before finally finishing tenth.
But once again Lynn bounced back, taking the race two victory. He was followed by the ever present Rowland who would be celebrating his best weekend of the season with a win and a second place.
“Race two was really good,” said Rowland. “At times, Alex stretched his lead and at times I caught up. Alex was driving really well, I know he was pushing hard to get a gap and I was pushing really, really hard to try to catch him.”
The double result for Rowland was particularly poignant after recent events in Rowland’s life, after the loss of karting mentor Martin Hines.
“A first and a second is my best result of the year. I’m really happy and it needed to come; getting towards the end of the season is when rookies start to blossom. I’d like to dedicate my win today to Martin Hines who recently passed away. He did a lot for me and my career.”
The pair swapped fastest laps throughout, but Lynn prevailed by less than a second when the flag fell. The win means Lynn now sits on 11 wins for the season, equal with the record held by James Matthews.
“I’ve been pushing hard all weekend,” said Lynn. “My start was really good, we got the gap into the first corner which I needed and for the whole race I maintained the gap back to Ollie and just played with the gap, pushing all the way, so it was a great victory.
“I think Ollie’s done a really good job and he’s pushed me really hard this weekend. My spin in qualifying was a mistake by me – without it I think we had the pace to be on pole. Then I spun in this morning’s race which is what it is, and I needed to win the second race and I did that job.”
Claiming the last step on the podium in both races was championship contender Tio Ellinas. He now sits 36 points adrift with four rounds to go.
“To be honest I’m pretty happy with two P3s today,” said Ellinas. “I’m thirty four points behind Alex but it’s still possible to go for the championship.
“I really like Brands GP and Silverstone National so we will try very hard in all four races. I know the gap I need to make up, so I’m working hard with the team.”
Dan Cammish impressed all weekend, claiming 40 points with two fifth place finishes, giving his Mark Burdett Motorsport team reason to cheer.
Championship debutant Alex Walker finished sixth and ninth, stepping up from the Intersteps series with relative ease.
The championship now heads to Brands Hatch where Alex Lynn has the chance to break the record for most wins in a season, which he is currently level with, and secure the championship is results go his way.
Round fifteen top ten results:
1. Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports 22:34.391 17 laps G
2. Mitchell Gilbert Fortec Motorsports +10.039 G
3. Tio Ellinas Atech Reid GP +10.524
4. Dan Wells Atech Reid GP +12.444
5. Daniel Cammish Mark Burdett Motorsport +12.563
6. Alex Walker Fortec Competition +13.513 G
7. Alice Powell Manor Competition +15.746 G
8. Oscar King Atech Reid GP +18.306 G
9. Jordan King Manor Competition +18.957 G
10. Alex Lynn Fortec Motorsports +23.430
Round sixteen top ten results:
1. Alex Lynn Fortec Motorsports 20:34.097 16 laps
2. Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports +0.800 G
3. Tio Ellinas Atech Reid GP +5.315
4. Jack Hawksworth Atech Reid GP +7.199
5. Daniel Cammish Mark Burdett Motorsport +9.254
6. Mitchell Gilbert Fortec Motorsports +10.882 G
7. Jordan King Manor Competition +13.227 G
8. Alice Powell Manor Competition +14.600 G
9. Alex Walker Fortec Competition +16.259 G
10. Dan Wells Atech Reid GP +19.093
Photo: Jakob Ebrey
Mike Trusler
