manor competition

Manor Competition is unquestionably one of the biggest names in Formula Renault across the globe and certainly the most successful team in the history of the Formula Renault UK Championship.

With the richest of traditions in producing, tutoring and nurturing the most outstanding national and international single-seater talent in the world, the reigning champion entrant once again underlined its unrivalled driver development in 2010.

Lewis Williamson became the 22nd winner of the hugely prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the fifth Manor driver to receive the accolade in just seven years and the third in as many seasons – following Dean Smith, Formula Renault UK Champion, in 2009 and Alexander Sims in 2008.

Formula One rookie Paul di Resta won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 2004 after a strong final season in Formula Renault UK with Manor and the year after Oliver Jarvis – currently an Audi DTM driver – followed suit having claimed the 2005 Formula Renault UK title.

Of course, the two most high profile drivers to come through the Manor ranks are 2008 FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton (2003 Formula Renault UK Champion) and Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 F1 World Champion and current World Rally Championship star. The Finn won the first Formula Renault UK Championship of the category’s one-make era in 2000.

Others who have benefitted from the team’s vast knowledge and expertise are former F1 driver Antonio Pizzonia, sportscar racer and Le Mans 24 Hours Race winner Guy Smith and double British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato.

The Manor Competition name first came into being at the end of 2006 following the purchase by husband and wife partnership Tony and Sarah Shaw of the Formula Renault assets from John Booth’s Manor Motorsport.

Booth first established the Manor brand in 1990 and the team rapidly became a huge success story, winning multiple championships in Formula Renault and also enjoying great success in Formula Ford and Formula 3.

With Booth seeking to concentrate on Manor’s F3 Euroseries operations in 2007, ultimately leading to the creation of Manor Grand Prix and then the Virgin Racing Formula One Team, the purchase of the Formula Renault assets by the squad’s team manager Tony Shaw and his wife Sarah was logical.

In its first campaign as Manor Competition in the 2006 Formula Renault UK Winter Championship, the team won its maiden silverware with Frenchman Franck Mailleux taking the title off the back of four straight race wins.

Since then, the New Ollerton based outfit has continued its phenomenal success story unabated. Although Alexander Sims was pipped to the 2008 main season championship by the narrowest of margins, Dean Smith sealed the crown the following year with a stunning record of 15 podiums from 18 starts – a tally including seven race victories.

In 2010 Lewis Williamson was Vice-Champion and his race winning exploits, along with those of team-mates Will Stevens and Ollie Millroy, netted Manor Competition the entrant’s title.