TRS Arden announced their 2017 line-up for the UK’s most competitive single-seater series last month, with it featuring Ayrton Simmons, Oscar Piastri, Yves Baltas and Olli Caldwell. However, with Caldwell having to wait until 11 June to turn 15 years of age and become eligible to compete, TRS Arden found themselves with a vacant seat for the first part of the season.
What better way to fill it than with a British F4 Rookie Champion? At just 15-years-old Alex Quinn was a leading light in 2016. He dominated the Rookie class, recording a remarkable 16 wins and a total of 26 podiums, including three overall race victories. The first of which in only his fourth car race on the back of a fantastic pole position at Donington Park.
The talented teenager from Camelford, Cornwall came within touching distance of doing the double and being crowned FIA British Formula 4 Champion, having still been in title contention at the season finale weekend.
Alex Quinn “I’m so happy to race for TRS Arden and I want to say a huge thank you to them for this fantastic opportunity. “The aim is to make the best start I can at Brands Hatch to show people what I can do straight away in qualifying and the opening races.
I’ve been quick at all the tracks we’ve tested at. We are in a very good place. The potential in the team is huge, especially with great drivers like Ayrton, Oscar, Yves and Olli. We’re all working together so well. I think it will be an excellent year.
I want to race in British F4 for the whole season, so I need to perform in the first four meetings to attract sponsors and prove that I can fight at the front for the championship.
TRS Arden is such a good team and it’s extremely well run. They knew I had the speed before I jumped in the car at testing. We’ve been on the same page from the outset and I’ve been working really well with my engineer Clément Dumont whose work is exceptional.
It was a brilliant feeling to be quickest at Brands Hatch and then quickest in the morning session at Snetterton; especially given the limited time I’ve had with the team and car in 2017 compared to a lot of other drivers.”
Quinn has immediately gelled with Garry Horner’s Banbury-based outfit, showing front-running pace in a number of test sessions. The 16-year-old was quickest on only his first full day of official pre-season testing at Brands Hatch, by a margin of over three tenths of a second. A feat made all the more impressive given that much of the field already had plenty of 2017 mileage under their belts from preceding tests.
Ben Bloomfield “It was great to see that someone like Alex can get behind the wheel of one of our cars and go so well from the outset.
It’s a huge a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone.
The team have worked really hard all winter. The drivers have been putting in the effort in training and we have shown that we can be consistently on top.
I know we have the best team and a strong driver line-up for the 2017 season.”