This time last year Sean McIntosh was preparing to take his place on the Formula Renault UK Championship grid as a virtual unknown. Winning in just his seventh start, the 19-year-old rookie didn’t take long to rectify the situation and as the 2005 season kicks off this weekend, 9th-10th April, at Donington Park in England, Sean’s credentials as a championship contender are without question!
Returning to Europe McIntosh will again pilot the #24 Team Firstair entry in his sophomore season. Both Sean and Team Firstair are looking to convert their 2004 ‘Graduate Cup’ Championship success, for rookie of the year honors, into the 2005 Formula Renault UK Championship title. Armed with a full year of competition in one of open-wheel racing’s most competitive development series, Sean’s arrival at Donington Park this weekend marks a significant contrast in status to the start of the ’04 season for the young Vancouver native.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s return to action Sean commented:
“I’m really excited to be starting the season at Donington, not just because I had a great weekend there last September but also because it’s a great circuit to race on! The track really flows with decent straights and fast corners, it’s really how an F1 track should be. I think we have a good base set-up for the car which we can fine tune and hopefully get right up there in qualifying and the races.
“The team has worked hard throughout winter and pre-season testing has allowed us to further develop our understanding of the car and the new Michelin tires being introduced this year. It’s always good to be fast in testing but this weekend is where it really counts. I’m hoping we can start the new season in the same way we finished the last one – celebrating on the podium!”
The Leicestershire circuit holds fond memories for Sean as he clinched the inaugural ‘Graduate Cup’ title at the track last September courtesy of a second-place podium finish in the penultimate round of the Formula Renault UK Championship. Sean subsequently capped an already outstanding weekend with a second successive podium, this time a third place finish, to capture sixth overall in the final driver standings.
Sunday’s races, two 16-lap sprints round the 1.9-mile National Circuit at Donington Park, herald the start of the 2005 Formula Renault UK Championship, the series supporting the prestigious British Touring Car Championship with ten double-header race weekends.
ENDS
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