ENSTONE-BASED Renault endured a frustrating weekend at Silverstone as both drivers were forced to retire from a rain-soaked British Grand Prix.

Jolyon Palmer and Kevin Magnussen stopped on lap 38 and 50 with suspected gearbox problems.

After qualifying 18th and 16th respectively, the changing track conditions offered little opportunity to move up the field in a race started behind the safety car.

Palmer’s day had already been one to forget when he was released from the pits on lap 16 with only three wheels, which led to a penalty and the British driver rejoining at the back of the pack.

He said: “It wasn’t the result I wanted for my home race.”

“What happened was unfortunate, but it could happen to anyone up and down the pitlane.

“We retired the car as there was a strange feeling with the gearbox, more as a precaution as at that stage we were two laps down.”

l CHIPPING Norton-based SWR Racing were in action at Spa in the British Formula 3 Championship.

Thomas Maxwell and Eugene Denyssen recorded season best finishes of seventh and eighth respectively in the third race.

The next round is at Snetterton on August 6-7.