Williamson returns to racingposted in MSPOR11 | 02 | 2016
HIGHLANDER LEWIS WILLIAMSON is to return to full-time racing this season, three years after last competing in GP3. The 26-year-old from Golspie will race in the Renault Sport RS01 Championship with Strakka.
Williamson — the 2010 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner — has worked with the team over the last few years, and tested its LMP2 last November at the WEC rookie day in Bahrain.
Working with founder, Nick Leventis — whose team contests both the World Endurance Championship and Formula V8 3.5 — Williamson (pictured) will lead Strakka's expansion into Renault's one-make sportscar category.
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"Over the last two years or so I've grown closer to Strakka Racing," the Scot explained. "They've given me the opportunity to coach their Strakka Performance drivers or test its cars.
"This development is a fantastic chance to get my career kickstarted. I really appreciate the chances that drivers in the Strakka family receive.
"Moving into the RS01 is, I believe, the perfect stepping stone to progress into sportscars, which is where I want to be now."
The partnership with Strakka signals a welcome return for the talented Williamson, a GP3 race winner whose career appeared to have been derailed after Red Bull dropped him from its young driver programme in 2012.
Related: Williamson tops GP3 times
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Jim McGill