Scottish car racing rookie Finlay Hutchison will make the leap straight onto the European stage for his maiden season in single-seaters this year after today, Thursday, 3rd March, completing a deal with Mark Burdett Motorsport to contest the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC).



Partnering experienced category podium finisher Alex Gill at the Skegness squad, 16-year-old Hutchison will arrive in the ultra-competitive championship off the back of a strong karting career, which delivered two titles, and is determined to make consistent progress in his debut campaign.



Taking the Rotax Mini Max WSKC crown in 2011 – a championship won previously by the likes of Paul Di Resta, David Coulthard, Allan McNish and Dario Franchitti – Hutchison went on to secure the Scottish Rotax Mini Max title the following year and was third in the Mini Max CKRC Championship.



“I’m obviously really pleased to be making my debut in Formula Renault NEC this year as a Mark Burdett Motorsport driver”, said the Scot, “From the first test I did with the team, we all worked together really well. There won’t be any expectations for my first season, the aim is to just develop well and learn as much as I can from the team and a great team-mate like Alex.”



Team principal Mark Burdett is delighted to have signed Hutchison for the 2016 campaign and, despite the youngster being fresh to cars, is confident he will develop strongly throughout his maiden year in cars.



After first testing with the team in Valencia, Spain, last December, Hutchison gelled well with engineer Andy Miller and enjoyed his first track outing of 2016 at a bitterly cold Donington Park last Thursday, 25th February, before another outing at Silverstone on Friday, 26th February.



“It’s fantastic news to have two drivers signed for the new season and we’re really looking forward to working with Finlay and seeing how he progresses during the year”, said Burdett, “It’s not going to be easy, Formula Renault 2.0 NEC is a very tough championship, but Finlay is well aware of that.



“It’s certainly a big step to move into NEC straight from karting, but we’re sure he is going to develop well, especially working closely with a quick driver like Alex. He just needs to make the best progress he can, develop his skills and, hopefully, move up the order as the season unfolds.”



Assen in The Netherlands will host the first official pre-season test for the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC competitors next week, 9th/10th March, with additional running taking place in Germany, at both the Nurburgring and Hockenheim. The season itself will begin on 23rd/24th April at Monza in Italy.