Mark Burdett Motorsport enjoyed a fantastically successful conclusion to 2011 at Rockingham in Northamptonshire today, Saturday, 12^th November, with Formula Renault BARC graduate Josh Webster racing to third place overall in the Protyre Formula Renault UK ‘Finals Series’ standings. 

After claiming his maiden Formula Renault UK podium during round four of the rebranded winter series at Snetterton in Norfolk last weekend (5^th/6^th November), 17-year-old Webster went on to consolidate his top three placing in the driver standings this afternoon with two great drives.

Foggy, damp conditions made for a difficult qualifying session for rounds five and six and although disappointed to be 10^th and seventh on the grid respectively for the two races, Webster went on to finish ninth in the opener – having run as high as fifth – and then fifth in the second encounter.

In the drier second race, Webster was in his element and relished the grip and performance offered by his car. Moving into the top six on lap one, he took fifth at Deene Hairpin with a great cut-back on lap six and spent the remainder of the race pressuring for fourth. 

Concluding his first campaign in a current specification FR 2.0 car with a best result of second from round four at Snetterton, added to fourth in round three, a pair of top fives and no result outside the top 10, Webster finishes the Finals Series seven points clear of Red Bull-backed driver Daniil Kvyat.

“Josh has done a very good job and has made great progress”, commented team principal Mark Burdett, “He’s been racing these last two weekends against the boys who have already been doing it all year and who have a huge amount of experience in the car. We’re really pleased with him and hope we can continue to work with Josh next year.”  

Poland’s Tomasz Krzeminski, debuting in Formula Renault UK during the Finals Series after driving in the French F4 Championship this year, made good inroads over the course of the four rounds at Snetterton last weekend and the two races at Rockingham today. 

Showing a great deal of promise, the 18-year-old unfortunately wasn’t able to better the 11^th place he achieved last Sunday in Norfolk but he did race very competitively once again. Qualifying very strongly in damp conditions, Krzeminski lined-up for the two Rockingham races in 11^th and 10^th place respectively but in the opening encounter he was bundled down to 17^th before climbing back to 16^th.

In the sixth and final round, the Pole was unfortunately forced into retirement on lap two while running in a fantastic eighth position. Although missing out on a coveted top 10 finish, Krzeminski has shown all the hallmarks of being an exciting prospect.

“Tomasz has made great progress, he’s not had as much experience of racing as Josh but he’s come on very well”, said Burdett, “He’s been a bit unlucky with a couple of accidents but a proper winter testing programme will move him forward nicely ahead of next season.”

Webster’s Finals Series success caps off a very strong season for Mark Burdett Motorsport with the Skegness team having finished the main Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship fourth in the entrant standings, as Jack Hawksworth and Daniel Cammish celebrated numerous podium finishes.

“We had a good year in the main championship with Dan and Jack”, added Burdett, “We’ve worked well this year and helped to progress some good, young drivers. Next year we want to be out there challenging for the championship.”

Final 2011 Protyre Formula Renault UK ‘Finals Series’ Standings:

3^rd Josh Webster, 118pts; 21^st Tomasz Krzeminski, 22pts