Welcome to my first column for Auto123.com. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to be able to share some of my experiences this season. It’s certainly a busy one for me based over in Europe.
I’m racing for Carlin in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series – where I’m leading the Driver Standings with two rounds remaining. On top of that I’m a Reserve Driver for the Marussia Virgin Racing team in Formula One.
To put it bluntly it’s been an incredible year for me so far. The Formula Renault 3.5 Series is one of the most competitive open-wheel racing categories in Europe. It enjoys a reputation for promoting talent with current Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel a former graduate. Other drivers to make it to F1 having raced there include Robert Kubica and Jaime Alguersuari.
I’ve been racing in Europe since 2008 and I’ve enjoyed a lot of race wins along the way but I’m still gunning for that first title. I’ve come close before, finishing runner-up in the F2 Championship in 2009 and again in the GP3 Series last year.
To win the Formula Renault 3.5 Series this season would really be something special and the perfect ‘thank you’ to my sponsor, Marussia Motors, for their support this year.
With two rounds to go I’d be perfectly happy to replicate the results from the last round at Silverstone. I won both races from pole to re-take the lead of the series from France’s Jean-Eric Vergne.
It was an amazing weekend and in particular I was happiest for my team, Carlin, who sealed the Team Championship on home soil. I celebrated the results as ‘home’ victories too as I’m living in Milton Keynes in England this year, just up the road from Silverstone and home to much of the UK’s motorsport community!
Silverstone took my tally to four wins on the year and I’m certainly hungry to add to that with the final rounds at Paul Ricard in France and at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. I know it’s a cliché but there really is lots of racing left so I’m taking nothing for granted.
At the same time I’m combining racing with my responsibilities as an F1 Reserve Driver for Marussia Virgin Racing. My relationship with the team was announced just before the Canadian Grand Prix in June so it was great to start at my home Grand Prix and at the track where I scored my very first win back in Formula BMW USA.
We’re off to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. I get to sit in on all the debriefings with the drivers, Timo (Glock) and Jerome (D’Ambrosio). I’ve been made to feel very welcome within the team, which is great, and I have a good relationship with the engineers and directors. My weekend schedule involves a mix of things, much of which I’ll share with you in more depth over the next few races courtesy of Auto123.com.
There’s a bunch of stuff to take in each weekend, it’s just one massive learning curve but to some extent it’s the same for the team, competing in just its second season in Formula One. That said, we’re well established and with nine two-car finishes in 12 races, our progress is evident and there’s lots more to come. These are exciting times!
Robert Wickens
@robertwickens.com
www.robertwickens.com
I’m racing for Carlin in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series – where I’m leading the Driver Standings with two rounds remaining. On top of that I’m a Reserve Driver for the Marussia Virgin Racing team in Formula One.
 |
| Robert Wickens (Photo: Rene Fagnan/Auto123.com) |
To put it bluntly it’s been an incredible year for me so far. The Formula Renault 3.5 Series is one of the most competitive open-wheel racing categories in Europe. It enjoys a reputation for promoting talent with current Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel a former graduate. Other drivers to make it to F1 having raced there include Robert Kubica and Jaime Alguersuari.
I’ve been racing in Europe since 2008 and I’ve enjoyed a lot of race wins along the way but I’m still gunning for that first title. I’ve come close before, finishing runner-up in the F2 Championship in 2009 and again in the GP3 Series last year.
To win the Formula Renault 3.5 Series this season would really be something special and the perfect ‘thank you’ to my sponsor, Marussia Motors, for their support this year.
With two rounds to go I’d be perfectly happy to replicate the results from the last round at Silverstone. I won both races from pole to re-take the lead of the series from France’s Jean-Eric Vergne.
It was an amazing weekend and in particular I was happiest for my team, Carlin, who sealed the Team Championship on home soil. I celebrated the results as ‘home’ victories too as I’m living in Milton Keynes in England this year, just up the road from Silverstone and home to much of the UK’s motorsport community!
 |
| Robert Wickens, Carlin Formula Renault 3.5 (Photo: Renault Sport) |
Silverstone took my tally to four wins on the year and I’m certainly hungry to add to that with the final rounds at Paul Ricard in France and at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. I know it’s a cliché but there really is lots of racing left so I’m taking nothing for granted.
At the same time I’m combining racing with my responsibilities as an F1 Reserve Driver for Marussia Virgin Racing. My relationship with the team was announced just before the Canadian Grand Prix in June so it was great to start at my home Grand Prix and at the track where I scored my very first win back in Formula BMW USA.
We’re off to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. I get to sit in on all the debriefings with the drivers, Timo (Glock) and Jerome (D’Ambrosio). I’ve been made to feel very welcome within the team, which is great, and I have a good relationship with the engineers and directors. My weekend schedule involves a mix of things, much of which I’ll share with you in more depth over the next few races courtesy of Auto123.com.
There’s a bunch of stuff to take in each weekend, it’s just one massive learning curve but to some extent it’s the same for the team, competing in just its second season in Formula One. That said, we’re well established and with nine two-car finishes in 12 races, our progress is evident and there’s lots more to come. These are exciting times!
Robert Wickens
@robertwickens.com
www.robertwickens.com
 |