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Will ready for 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup title fight

Formula Renault Eurocup 2.0 race-winner Will Palmer is gearing up for the 2017 season with his gaze firmly fixed on challenging for the Eurocup title with his R-ace GP outfit. The 19-year-old is in a confident mood as he returns for his second season in the continental series, and is looking to build on an impressive end to the 2016 season.

"The main aim for 2017 is to win the championship," Will stated when asked what his goals are for the season ahead. "I had a good learning year in 2016 and we ended it well with a win at the last round. We are looking to carry that momentum into this season and hit the ground running to mount a title challenge."

The 2015 BRDC Formula 4 Champion will remain with the French R-ace GP squad for 2017, continuing a successful partnership which yielded victory at Estoril in Portugal during last year's Eurocup campaign. "The consistency should put me in good stead for this year," Will said. "I established a similar relationship to what I had with HHC Motorsport. We had quite a good first year with some wins and then stayed with them for the year after. I've found it really productive to have the same engineers, same team, and I can focus on putting everything together."

Will displayed strong pace across the 2016 season, scoring multiple podium finishes and front-row starts along with his success at the final Eurocup round, but is targeting greater consistency in order to sustain his title challenge. "After the end of the season, we had a good look through all the data and film from each weekend to see what worked and what didn't. I think we've made good steps to understand what happened in different situations. We have worked on them and we are confident that we have addressed them and can overcome them this season," Will commented.

For the 2017 season, the Eurocup expands to 10 rounds and 27 races with two on the famed street circuit in Monte Carlo, with the top two drivers in the championship also being welcomed on to the Renault Sport Academy. Will admits that the extra support from Renault and prize on offer adds an extra incentive for the year ahead. "The way the Renault Sport Academy works, it is definitely a good thing to be on that programme," he said. "To be linked with an F1 team is always a great thing to have. I think it works better too to just have one really strong European Formula Renault category. Each round is at a really good track so I am very much looking forward to it."

With the additional support of the French manufacturer, the 2017 Eurocup grid is shaping up to be one of the strongest in series history. Will admits he is looking forward to the challenge, stating: "The has been a huge number of drivers announced so far, including F4 champions from Great Britain, Mexico, Russia, Spain and France. With the Red Bull junior drivers too, it will be a very strong field and I am really looking forward to it. It is always good to have a competitive grid."

The on-track action of Will's 2017 season gets underway with a collective test on 15/16 March at Magny-Cours in France, but he has been keeping himself busy in the off-season and preparing well. "We've just had the Christmas break and I've just had university exams too, but alongside all of that I've been working on my fitness for the year ahead and making sure I am completely ready for when the season starts." 

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