HUDDERSFIELD’S Lee Dwyer made an instant impact on the established Formula Renault UK order during his maiden test session with the Hillspeed team at Silverstone National Circuit – the series rookie posting the fifth fastest time overall.

Joining the Hathersage team’s regular Formula Renault UK driver Menasheh Idafar and 2007 Winter Champion Richard Singleton at the opening day of the final official test of the pre-season, 18-year-old Dwyer was in breathtaking form as he produced a career best effort to get among the pre-season title favourites.

Lapping with a quickest time of 54.090 seconds (109.08mph) during the fourth session, the former Formula Renault BARC competitor concluded the test just 0.282 seconds shy of the outright pace and he was also the fastest of the ‘Graduate Cup’ runners – a championship within a championship for young category newcomers.

Inside the top 10 throughout the day, Dwyer was never more than six 10ths of a second away from the outright pace.

All in all, his first outing with the front-running Hillspeed squad proved to be a dream outing for both driver and team.

“It’s been a fantastic day for the whole team and a dream outing for Lee who performed superbly well”, said Hillspeed team boss Richard Ollerenshaw.

“We were always confident he would be strong today on the National Circuit but I think he surprised a lot of people here.

“To end up just a couple of 10ths of a second away from the top of the times speaks for itself, we’re all delighted.”