British racing driver Will Bratt will make a welcome, and long-awaited, return to competitive action this weekend, 5th/6th September, at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit having been invited by top team Pons Racing to stand-in for Roberto Merhi during the UK round of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

Banbury-based Will, who last piloted a single-seater racer all the way back in July 2011 in the FIA Formula 2 Championship at the Nurburgring, will get his first experience of the Pons FR 3.5 car at his ‘home’ track on Friday, 4th September, during a pair of brief 50-minute practice sessions.

With Spanish star Merhi competing in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza over the weekend with the Manor F1 Team, Sito Pons approached 27-year-old Will to take over the plum drive which will be the Briton’s competitive debut in the FIA Formula One World Championship feeder series.

“It’s a huge surprise to be racing in Formula Renault 3.5 this weekend at Silverstone, but a very pleasant one, and a really fantastic opportunity to be back racing and at such a high level too”, said an elated Will, “It’s going to be a big leap back in at the deep end, I haven’t even climbed into the cockpit of a single-seater since F2 in 2011, but I’ll be giving it 100% as I always do.

“When Sito offered us the chance to stand-in for Roberto we jumped at it, especially with the races being at Silverstone. The championship is as competitive as it’s ever been, so it’s not going to be easy, but I know the guys at Pons will give me a great car and if we can make progress across the weekend I’ll be very happy.”

When budget difficulties derailed the Oxon driver’s impressive FIA Formula 2 title bid in 2011, his attention turned towards other opportunities in saloon cars and sportscars and he went on to run in GT racing, including an appearance in the 2013 Total 24 Hours of Spa, and the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Single-seaters have, though, been Will’s focus almost his entire racing career. As a multiple race winner and title challenger in Formula Renault UK, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) member was Vice-Champion in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy in 2007 before progressing into Formula 3 where he was fifth overall in his first season with Emilio de Villota’s team in 2008 in the Spanish championship.

Making his test debut in GP2 Series in 2008, Will went on to race in the Euroseries 3000 category a year later where he claimed a memorable championship victory and doubled-up with the Italian F3000 Series title as well – earning him a prize race drive in the GP2 Asia Series. In 2010, he became the first driver to sign-up for the FIA Formula 2 Championship where he became a multiple winner.

Now set for an eleventh hour return to action with a maiden appearance in Formula Renault 3.5, Will’s outing with Pons Racing will also mark a reunion for the Briton with Emilio de Villota Jnr who is Team Manager of the FR 3.5 squad.

“It’s going to be fantastic working with Emilio again, we struck-up an incredible relationship when I raced with his team in Spanish F3”, said Will, “We’re not under any illusions as to how much of a challenge the weekend will present, but I’m determined to grab the opportunity with both hands and do the best job possible for all the guys at Pons.”

Following practice at Silverstone on Friday, 4th September, qualifying for race one of the weekend will take place at 09.00 on Saturday, 5th September, with the 40-minute plus one lap contest set to follow at 12.30. On Sunday, qualifying for race two will begin at 09.00 with the second encounter following at 12.30 – live television coverage of the event will be screened on BT Sport and Eurosport.