26-year-old Dundee native Lewis Williamson has a very interesting year ahead of him. As part of Strakka Racing, he’ll be driving in the Silverstone-based team’s new Renault R.S.01, sharing it with Strakka Racing co-founder Nick Leventis for the season.
Williamson is an experienced single-seater driver, who, like so man others, is in the process of making the switch to the sportscar scene this year after taking some time out of motorsport since his 2013 GP3 campaign with Bamboo Engineering. His previous experiences will be put to use though, as he will be working alongside Leventis at all bar one of the WEC races this season, providing support and coaching.
This weekend is the first round of the Renault R.S.01 series at Motorland Aragon. The clash with the WEC opener at Silverstone means he’ll be sharing the car with Tim Sugden while Leventis drives in the World Championship. But for the rest of the year, Williamson and Leventis will be travelling together, competing in the series as part of the ELMS support bill.
DSC spoke to Williamson ahead of his debut with the team, to get a full story on his background and thoughts on 2016:
Give me a run through of your career, which led you to driving for Strakka Racing this season?
“When I was backed by Red Bull a few years ago, I was in GP3, and then it finished up and I didn’t know where to go or where to find the best opportunity. I don’t come from a wealthy background, so taking money for a seat in GP3 or GP2 was not possible. Last year and the year before, I realised that I had to keep coaching to stay in the racing world, I believe if you’re not spoken about or not seen, you can get forgotten about pretty quickly.
“Fortunately last year Strakka gave me give a bit of work doing coaching for Formula Renault 2.0 at the start of the year. I then did a full year coaching with Status in GP3. I think it created a bit more opportunity for me, maybe something in sportscars.
“Now getting the chance to do the R.S.01 season, it’s thanks to Nick (Leventis) for this chance really. He tested the car, and took the opportunity to build more on his race craft and ability to do a better job in LMP2. He thought it would be a good thing for both of us to race together. We work together well, so it’s brilliant.”
You ran in the WEC rookie test last year with Strakka too last year, tell me about that?
“I was out in Bahrain coaching GP2 and GP3 guys who were racing the weekend before, then I stayed on for the rookie test. It was an eye-opener to be get out in the Gibson, do a tyre run and get a feeler.
“Sadly the day was cut short because of engine issues, but the fact that Strakka gave me a chance was great.”
We’re seeing more and more young drivers like you jumping over to sportscars from single seaters. From your perspective, what’s the state of GP2 and GP3 these days?
“Well, you look at a guy like James (Calado) he was winning races in GP2 and GP3, he’s always been in the top two of the championship and he didn’t manage to get a full F1 seat because he doesn’t come from a wealthy background, but he wants to be a pro driver. Nobody wants to pay to have a race seat. You’re not a pro driver if you’re paying to drive, anyone can do that if they have the money.
“I want to be the way I am and create the opportunity to go further. I’ve got to concentrate on this year, and next year I want to race in LMP2, get a chance in the WEC and do a good job.”
Give me your impressions of the WEC paddock, as someone who has shared a circuit with the Formula One circus?
“This is a proper gig! The Prologue was my first real taste, I thought it was just going to be a test but it’s pretty much a race event. I did as much as I could, I listened, I watched, I helped out the guys in the team.
“I’m with the Strakka guys to learn, so if I get my chance I’m ready to roll.”
Let’s talk about the Renault R.S.01 programme. Have you driven the car yet, it’s suddenly come on our radar?
“Yeah, I got the first taste of the car last month. It was great.
“I tested at Moorland Aragon; I’d driven a P2 Ligier there and I had to get out of the frame of mind when it comes to single seater driving. I had to think more sportscar which is good.
“There’s a lot of mid-corner speed, it’s got a lot of downforce, there’s lots of tweaks you can do. We set ourselves a series of goals, and the car reacted really well to the changes. It wasn’t like we weren’t getting anything back, small changes to that car make big differences.
“It’s an awesome car overall, I’m most impressed with the engine, it’s so good. It’s been reigned back a lot, it has so much more to give, but at the end of the day they want to keep the budgets low. More power and softer tyres would be more wearing not the car, and make it more expensive. They’ve hit the happy medium.”
Talk to me or about the series in general, as it’s now got you guys and even a name like Marc VDS popping up. Where do you think the series is going?
“I think the championship’s profile is on the up, it’s going to be great.
“I think you’ve got a couple of single-seater drivers this year, and that’s just what it needs to have a good year. You’ve got a team like ART that’s in there as well, so next year it will get more exposure.
“It’s good to have an Am and a Pro race, you get to race against guys at your level, then there’s an endurance race. You get a bit of everything.”
It’s part of the ELMS support package for most of the season. Is that an important factor for you?
“100%, you want to be racing as part of big events on the same weekend. It’ll get people to watch, and become interested.
“You don’t want to go to places where you’re the only series and you get no attention from fans.”
Stephen Kilbey
Photos courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography
