Canadian Focused on Formula One Goal
Canada’s Robert Wickens returns to European open-wheel competition this weekend with the 22-year-old set for the opening double-header round of the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, hosted at Spain’s Motorland Aragon Circuit, Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th April.
Forming part of the ‘World Series by Renault’ race weekend package, Wickens is no stranger to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series having competed in the championship in his first full-time season in Europe in 2008. As he will be this year, Robert raced for the UK-based Carlin outfit back then, becoming the first Canadian to win a round of the series at Silverstone while dove-tailing his commitments in the F3 Euro Series.
Teamed at Carlin this season alongside 2010 British Formula 3 Champion, France’s Jean-Eric Vergne, Wickens, the 2010 GP3 Series Runner-up, has wasted little time in showcasing himself as a favorite for the title having consistently been amongst the front-runners in pre-season testing.
The Canadian has attracted the backing of Marussia Motors – Russia’s first supercar manufacturer and co-owner of the Marussia Virgin Racing Formula One squad. His ‘World Series by Renault’ race car will be running in the colors of the F1 team and the Canadian hopes his efforts will lead to a shot in Formula One, his goal since he started karting competitively, and winning, back in 2001.
“It goes without saying I’m looking forward to getting back into competitive racing this weekend,” stated Wickens on his arrival in Spain. “We enjoyed a productive pre-season and proved to be quick in a variety of conditions at different tracks. I’m looking forward to being back with Carlin, a team I know very well, and I’m grateful to have the support of Marussia Motors for this year’s campaign.
“I’ve made no secret of my desire to be a Formula One driver and the European stage is where you have to keep proving yourself. I’ve been successful and won races in every category I’ve raced here and I’m simply looking for more of the same in the World Series by Renault this year. Hopefully I’ll add a title and a shot at Formula One off the back of my performances starting with this weekend in Spain!”
Robert’s weekend kicks off at Motorland Aragon with Race 1 set for 2pm CET on Saturday 16th with Race 2, also at 2pm CET, on Sunday 17th April.
Current F1 stars to have graduated from the Formula Renault 3.5 Series include F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, as well as Robert Kubica and Jaime Alguersuari.
For further information on the World Series by Renault please log on to: www.worldseriesbyrenault.com
