Successful Duo BRDC Formula 4 Championship team SWR is delighted to confirm this morning, Friday, 18th December, its first driver signing for the 2016 season after completing a deal with South African youngster Eugene Denyssen.
Chipping Norton-based SWR, which has been at the forefront of BRDC F4 since the inaugural season, originally tested Denyssen in one of the previous generation cars in late 2013 at Anglesey in Wales where he produced an impressive performance.
With a strong title-winning karting pedigree under his belt, Denyssen graduated into cars in 2014 with selected outings in South African Formula Ford but after a year on the racing sidelines he is now preparing to return to the track with a move into the ultra-competitive BRDC Formula 4 series.
“This is a very exciting and important step for my career and I can’t wait to work with the guys at SWR in BRDC F4 next year”, said the 19-year-old, “Although I haven’t raced this year, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to put a package together to enable me to compete in the UK.
“The test I did with SWR at the end of 2013 went very well, I gelled with the team straight away and we’ve been in contact since hoping to make this deal happen. I’m not underestimating the size of the challenge, it’s a tough championship and a new car too, but I’m sure we can have a strong year.”
Denyssen, from Somerset West near Cape Town in South Africa, began his karting career in 2009 in the Mini Max category and starred by winning the Rookie of the Year award. Combining regional and national championship campaigns the following year, he ended the former as Vice-Champion and was fourth in the South African National standings.
In 2011, Denyssen progressed into international competition while also continuing to race in his homeland after stepping-up into the Junior Max category. Finishing third overall in the South African National Championship, the teenager was also sixth in the Junior Rok National Championship and was selected to represent South Africa in the Rok World Final.
His most successful season came in 2012 when Denyssen won the WP Regional Championship and the Junior Max National title, earning him a place in the Rotax Max Grand Finals. The following year he progressed into Senior Max, where he was third overall in South Africa, and in 2014 he won the South African Open Championship and also competed in the Senior Max World Finals.
Multiple race winning team SWR is, of course, very happy to have confirmed its first 2016 signing before the Christmas break and team owner Sean Walkinshaw is looking forward to re-establishing the strong partnership with Denyssen which was formed back in 2013.
“We’re obviously very happy to have agreed a deal with Eugene for next season, he impressed us when we first tested him in the old car a couple of years ago and I’m sure he’ll get to grips with the new Tatuus-Cosworth with a good pre-season”, he commented, “The new car is a big step forward, much quicker and with significantly more aero, but Eugene has shown a lot of potential so far.”
While currently evaluating drivers for its remaining BRDC F4 seats, SWR also welcomes continued enquiries from competitors interested in competing in the championship in 2016. To find out more, get in touch with commercial manager Mick Gomme on +44 (0)845 4020402, +44 (0)7702 669418 or via email to mick@seanwalkinshawracing.com