After a truly outstanding season, which has included six wins, four pole positions, five fastest race laps and an impressive 13 podium appearances.
Chris commented:
“What a great race today and a great way to win the championship with another podium”, said the elated title winner, “The car has been great everywhere really this year, the team has been fantastic, and it’s been down to me to seal the deal. To win championships you don’t necessarily have to win races, just score points and keep on the podium as much as you can and that’s what we’ve done"
“As a single-seater driver, obviously I’d like to go up to European Renault or somewhere like that but it’s all down to the budget. We’ll work hard over the coming months where that’s concerned but we do have one or two things in the pipeline which might be a surprise!”
Chris began the weekend with second place to main rival Weiron Tan during round 12 and added third position in round 13. He then went into the final race of the event with one hand well and truly on the champion’s trophy.
His title victory was then assured when Fortec Motorsports racer Tan, who dominated the first two Rockingham outings, was forced to retire from the final race on the eighth lap with an engine issue – bitter disappointment for the Malaysian who was on course for a memorable winning hat-trick.
Tan’s misfortune, however, profited team-mate Hongwei Cao (Stoke-on-Trent) as he went on to take his first ever win in Protyre Formula Renault, just desserts after an incredibly strong weekend from the Chinese driver.
Chris rounded out the podium in third race after grabbing the place from Fortec’s Wei Fung Thong around the outside at Deene on lap one.
Protyre Formula Renault now takes a seven week break from action with the final two races of the 2013 season, rounds 15 and 16, taking place at Silverstone National Circuit over the weekend 28th/29th September as support to the British Touring Car Championship. Live television coverage of the second encounter of the weekend is expected to be screened on ITV4 and ITV4 HD.
Provisional 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship Standings (after Rd14 – inc. drop score):
CHAMPION: Chris Middlehurst - 392pts
2nd Weiron Tan - 297pts
3rd Jorge Cevallos - 265pts
4th Jake Cook - 262pts
5th Hongwei Cao - 249pts
6th Joe Ghanem - 66pts