May 08, 2018

 

Ginetta Junior Championship leader Luke Browning is set to sign for a full-time seat at the Mayor Downard Racing Team from the Austrian Grand Prix, whilst remaining under long-term contract to Downforce Racing.

The deal is said to be as a loan arrangement to MDR due to the fact that Downforce Racing wanted to reward Browning with a drive and had no seat to give him, and so have elected to place him at MDR much to the delight of team boss Jack Mayor. Browning is expected to one up alongside Dutch star Wesley Stefano.

"I'm very happy to be joining MDR," Luke stated today. "There's room for progression if Mayor wants to take me there. I'm now excited to get my exams out of the way, and then I can get stuck in. For me, this is just the start."

As part of the deal, MDR will carry Downforce branding for the remainder of the season from the Red Bull Ring onwards.

"We are delighted to give Browning our blessing to race for MDR for the 2018 campaign," said team boss Jake Sanson today. "When the offer was given to him we gave him the choice to make up his own mind, and after expressing his wish to remain loyal to us we entered the agreement with Jack and the MDR outfit to keep him as a Downforce driver working alongside (Wesley) Stefano.

"MDR are a fantastic team and a very professional outfit and I know Luke will grow there."

Sanson was also quick to defend his two Formula Challenge drivers Harry Graham and Tom Davison after suggestions that Browning may be promoted to the Downforce team in 2018.

"I want to make it very clear that Tom (Davison) and Harry (Graham) have done nothing that would make me consider dropping them at any point in 2018," continued Sanson. "Both are 15, passionate and intelligent young drivers who are keen to learn and keen to develop. Harry set the fastest time in qualifying, whilst both he and Tom ran out of luck at Canada, but both of them are winners and I believe their time will come. They have been incredibly impressive and are getting better at every meeting.

"They have adapted very well to GPVWC despite a lot of critics about their ability, which I have no doubt about. For the age of 15, they are the best young sim racers I have seen at this level, and I'm confident both will win races as Downforce drivers in GPVWC."