Tarun Reddy in the top six on debut at Rochingham
Rochingham (England), 7 April 2014: Sixteen-year-old Indian driver Tarun Reddy made a superb job of his debut racing weekend in England by scoring two sixth-place finishes against an international field in the 2014 Protyre Formula Renault Championship at Rockingham Motor Speedway.
According to a Press Release from Adrenna Communications, Reddy was sixth in races one and three, and eighth in race two, ending the weekend in sixth place in the championship. The 16-year-old Indian belied his lack of experience by mixing it with the rest of the field on the highly technical Rockingham circuit, which mixes oval Indycar-style banking with complex twists and turns on the infield.
After joining the MGR Motorsport team of long-respected Formula Renault engineer Mark Godwin, Tarun was up against it in terms of testing and preparation before the opening round. But after taking ninth place in the opening qualifying session, he slashed the deficit to the front in the second session, taking eighth place – just 0.7 seconds off pole position.
Tarun admitted having a tough start but was happy to finish the weekend on a very strong note. He said, “The pressure got to me a little bit in first qualifying. I lack experience of making the most of new tyres and didn’t use them very well, and that cost me a good starting position. But in second qualifying I did a better job. It was my first race in England and I didn’t want to do anything stupid. I just wanted to come over the line in a good position.”
In the first race, Tarun passed American TJ Fischer for eighth place on lap three, then moved up to sixth as drivers ahead made errors. In race two, Reddy went from 10th on the grid to eighth on the first lap. For much of the rest of the race he was in a big fight, losing one position to American TJ Fischer but passing Scotsman Colin Noble Jr on the penultimate lap to finish eighth.
The final race saw the leading runners in a big train in the early laps, with Tarun passing Belgian Wolfgang Reip on lap two to take seventh place. Towards the end he closed in on a battle between Noble and McLaren Formula 1 protégé Ben Barnicoat, and he was able to snatch sixth place from Noble with a dramatic move on the final lap into Chapman Curve – a corner where, traditionally, nobody passes!
“I was not too comfortable with the balance of the car in the race, but I was pleased to pass Noble towards the end of Race 2. We made some changes to the car and it felt a lot better in the final race. I lost a position at the start but made it back immediately on outbraking, and then I passed Reip. On the final lap I got Noble – because it was the last lap, I just went for it when I got the opportunity – and I was all over Barnicoat at the finish. With another lap or two I’m sure I could have had him as well!” said Reddy.
Tarun was pleased with the weekend, and is now looking forward to the second round, which takes place at Donington Park on 31st May/1st June. “Rockingham went quite well. I didn’t expect it to go so well, with my lack of testing and the drivers I was up against. But as the weekend went on it got better and better.
“The plan is to come back to England a week before Donington and do a few days of testing so I can get up to speed with the circuit. Before then I will focus on my fitness and preparation in India, but it will be great to get more miles in the car.” he said.
Reddy’s manager and coach, MRF
Challenge champion Rupert Svendsen-Cook, added: “In every single session, from first qualifying to the last race, Tarun got closer and closer to the front. I don’t think there was another driver who made as much progress as he did. And he did a great opportunist move on Noble on the last lap – that showed real character and commitment.”
eom/Adrenna release
