Staffsmart UK sponsored motor racing ace James Gornall from Werrington Peterborough has begun to show his true potential in the hotly contested Formula Renault UK Championship. The Championship won by Kimi Raikkonen in 2000, is the most hotly contested and largest single seater category in the UK with 35 cars on the grid, and drivers from all over the world.



James who won the BARC Formula Renault title in 2003, his first season in car racing, has been steadily gaining experience in the main series, with the new faster 2004 car, and visiting the UK circuits for only the second time in his short career. “The car capable of speeds up to 150mph and accelerating from 0 –100mph in 4 seconds” says James “is very different to drive and requires a certain technique the same as Formula 1 cars, which I now feel I am starting to get to grips with! We race at fantastic speeds, wheel to wheel and often the first 20 cars can be separated by a few tenths of a second. There is very little room for error, if you do make any mistake, you will be passed by other cars or very easily go off the circuit!”

Whilst struggling with the qualifying sessions due to lack of experience James has nevertheless been racing well and has scored points at 3 of the 4 rounds, leaving him mid way in the championship standings at this early stage. Racing on a budget a quarter the size of most of his competitors James’ task is made all the harder. “We are still seeking sponsors for this year,” he says “and looking toward 2005 as well.”
Albeit not winning races yet, “watch this space” says James, Renault UK have seen fit to award James with two driver of the day awards so far from 4 rounds. More than any other driver and clearly demonstrating that James has already been recognised for his undoubted talent.

At last weekends round at Oulton Park, James scored points in both races with two 14th places. In race 2 he had qualified 13th, but almost stalled the car at the start and fell back to 20th after the first lap. He however fought back to 14th place and in doing so set the second fastest lap of all the cars in the race at 1m 20.237. The fastest lap going to the vastly experienced championship favourite and leader Mike Conway at 1m 20.149. “I am really pleased with the pace we showed in the race” said James “it really has proved to me that I can match the best. Now all I have to do is qualify well, which has been a weakness to date, and who knows what results we can get! I am really grateful to JA Motorsport for giving me a car that was so good. This championship and the car is all very new to them as well, but they are doing a great job for me”.

James is now looking forward to the next round at Thruxton circuit on 29/30 May. “I finished 10th here at the first round. Thruxton is recognised as the fastest circuit in the UK, and requires total commitment on all the corners for good lap times".