Hitech team to contest Formula Renault UK championship

Marlon Stockinger, David Hayle and Nick Yelloly

After a successful debut season in Formula Renault, Hitech Junior will return to race in the UK next season with an assault on the 2009 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship. The Silverstone-based team has already signed rapid Filipino Marlon Stockinger and British kart star Nick Yelloly with negotiations well under way for the two remaining seats.

At Monday’s signing of former Formula BMW Pacific Scholarship winner Stockinger and Yelloly, who contested this year’s FRenault Winter Cup, Team Principal David Hayle confirmed his team’s participation in the UK’s leading one-make single seater championship, which next year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Following a successful first year in Renault, Hayle indicated that the team may also contest a number of European races during the season.

“We are still evaluating our options regarding competing in the Eurocup as last year was a fantastic experience," said Hayle. “The series is very professional and the competition is strong, but it’s very expensive for a UK team to compete in Europe. You have to have good, experienced drivers with good budgets to be on top."

Seventeen year-old Stockinger finished third in the 2008 Formula BMW Pacific Rookie Cup and eighth overall after becoming one of three and the only Asian Scholarship winner. The former multiple kart champion, who only made his car racing debut in the Malaysian Grand Prix FBMW Pacific support race in March will be amongst the youngest on the grid when the series kicks off in April.

Yelloly too makes the move up from a successful karting career, finishing eighth in this year’s British Super1 KF1 Kart Championship. The Birmingham teenager who recently celebrated his 18th birthday made his car racing debut in the 2008 Formula Renault Winter Cup.