Recent News

Superb double podium for Will in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC at Silverstone

Will Palmer claimed a brilliant double podium finish from two races in the second round of the 2016 Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC) held at Silverstone last weekend (14/15 May). The 19-year-old came home third in the first race of the meeting on Saturday before going one better on Sunday, to finish as runner-up in the second and final encounter on Sunday.

After a strong opening weekend in the NEC at Monza, where the Southwater driver took a maiden podium on his debut on the series, Will was looking to use home advantage to maintain his good form at a circuit where he has typically gone well in the past; winning twice last year at the Grand Prix venue in BRDC Formula 4.

In qualifying for the first race of the weekend, the R-ace GP man was consistently amongst the top drivers and as the session headed towards its conclusion, he posted a lap time of 1m58.295s around the Arena Grand Prix circuit. That put him in third place behind fellow Brit Lando Norris and his team-mate Max Defourny. The second qualifying session followed directly after and Will improved his pace to lap the 3.6-mile track in a 1m57.368s. That put him on the front-row for race two alongside Norris, with championship leader Dorian Boccolacci behind in third.

As the field lined up for the start of race one, there was drama before the start as Lando Norris pulled into the pits at the end of the formation lap with electrical problems. That effectively promoted Will to second as the lights went out, despite him having to line-up in his third place grid spot. The 2015 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner made a good start and held second through Copse corner behind Defourny.

Will was comfortable in second and quickly settled into a rhythm and built a 1.5s lead over Boccolacci as the race moved through its half-way point. However, as time ticked down in the 25-minute contest he began to suffer bad tyre graining issues, and that enabled Boccolacci to close up to the back of the 2015 BRDC Formula 4 Champion with two laps remaining. Despite a brave rearguard action, Boccolacci was able to utilise his superior grip and coming out of Woodcote he slipped down the inside of Will and held the racing line to take second going through Copse for the final time. Despite losing second, Will took to the podium for the second consecutive race and was in with a good chance of making it three, lining up second for race two on Sunday.

As the lights went out to begin the final encounter of the weekend, Will once again made a good start and maintained his second place into the first corner behind Lando Norris. He again was able to settle into a rhythm quickly and maintained a healthy advantage over the chasing pack, as Norris continued to lead. As time ticked down, Will was calm and collected and eventually came home nearly one second clear of Boccolacci to secure his best result of the season so far in second, as Norris took the chequered flag first.

After his successful weekend, Will moves up to fourth in the overall standings on 72 points, just six points shy of his team-mate Max Defourny in second, and 18 behind championship leader Boccolacci.

The next round of the NEC takes place at the Hungaroring on 18/19 June but first, the prestigious streets of Monaco will see Formula Renault action as Will competes in one round of the Eurocup championship there on the weekend of 28/29 May.

Formula Renault 2.0 NEC - Silverstone - Race One Top-10

1. M Defourny, R-ace GP, 13 Laps
2. D Boccolacci, Tech 1 Racing, +4.571s
3. W Palmer, R-ace GP, +5.860s
4. F Habsburg, Fortec Motorsports, +6.085s
5. J Daruvala, Josef Kaufmann Racing, +9.146s
6. J Allen, JD Motorsport, +13.107s
7. A Gill, Mark Burdett Motorsport, +16.023s
8. J Falchero, R-ace GP, +16.679s
9. H de Sadeleer, Tech 1 Racing, +17.192s
10. V Romanov, Fortec Motorsports, +18.247s

Formula Renault 2.0 NEC - Silverstone - Race Two Top-10

1. L Norris, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 13 Laps
2. W Palmer, R-ace GP, +4.124s
3. D Boccolacci, Tech 1 Racing, +4.970s
4. J Daruvala, Josef Kaufmann Racing, +6.747s
5. M Defourny, R-ace GP, +6.942s
6. J Falchero, R-ace GP, +7.430s
7. C O Keefe, JD Motorsport, +7.943s
8. A Gill, Mark Burdett Motorsport, +13.196s
9. V Romanov, Fortec Motorsports, +13.616s
10. F Habsburg, Fortec Motorsports, +14.256s

Latest Results

Latest Eurocup Standings