Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
MGR Motorsport has unveiled a four-car line-up for the 2014 Protyre Formula Renault season, led by Pietro Fittipaldi.
Joining the Brazilian at the team are Matteo Ferrer, Tarun Reddy and Colin Noble.
The grandson of double Formula 1 world champion Emerson, Fittipaldi contested a dual programme of Protyre Formula Renault and the BRDC F4 Championship in his maiden single-seater campaign last year. He claimed a race win in BRDC F4 driving for the MGR team, and finished eighth in the Protyre series with Jamun Racing.
He has now switched his Protyre programme from Jamun to MGR – who won the title in 2013 with Chris Middlehurst. The Formula Renault series will become his sole racing focus in 2014, with a testing programme planned in continental FR2.0 machinery.
?I don?t think anyone quite appreciated how big a learning curve Pietro had last year,? said MGR team principal Mark Godwin. ?We saw some real flashes of talent from him and we?re delighted he?s become part of the team for Protyre Formula Renault this year. He has all the right attributes to go a very long way in this sport, he has the ability and has a very good chance of winning races this year.”
Ferrer, who is currently competing in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, remains with MGR after finishing 14th in last year’s standings.
?Matteo improved massively as the season went on last year,” said Godwin. “He?ll definitely be a front-runner and he?s going to have the experience from the TRS in New Zealand to draw on as well. He?s been up against some tough drivers out there but he?s shown good pace, just like he did in the Winter Series in F4 last November ? getting a podium there was a big boost.?
Indian driver Reddy is mentored by British F3 race-winner Rupert Svendsen-Cook. Formerly part of Force India’s academy, the 16-year-old is a race winner himself in the MRF 1600 series back home.
?Tarun has shown well in the testing he?s done with us,” said Godwin. “It looks like he could be one to watch and he?s got Rupert behind him looking after his career. Rupert knows the Renault is the best car for Tarun to learn in and this is where he needs to be.”
Noble has purchased the championship winning car of Middlehurst, and makes the switch from Radical sports prototype racing after winning the inaugural SR1 Cup last year. The Scottish youngster won seven out of eight races.
?We haven?t done any testing with Colin yet, but he?s got a championship-winning package under him and he did a fantastic job in the Radicals last year,” commented Godwin. “I?m sure he?ll be very competitive from the off and we?ll have four strong drivers. The aim is to try and emulate what we did last season.”
2014 Protyre Formula Renault 2.0 line-up so far
| Team | Drivers |
| Cliff Dempsey Racing | TJ Fischer, Patrick Dussault |
| MGR Motorsport | Pietro Fittipaldi, Matteo Ferrer, Tarun Reddy, Colin Noble |
| SWB Motorsport | Jack Butel |