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Onslow-cole Crowned Champion After Brands Podium |
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Monday, 25 September 2006 |
Tom Onslow-Cole (New Malden, Surrey) is the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion after finishing third in round 18 at Brands Hatch Indy today. Although his nearest title-rival Paul Rivett (Banstead, Surrey) won the race ahead of Martin Byford, the Total Control Racing star’s lead of 69 points is insurmountable with just two rounds left and 68 points on offer.
The 19-year-old, in his fourth season of Clio Cup racing since becoming it youngest-ever driver aged 16 years and 22 days, won round 17 earlier on Sunday to further extend his lead over Rivett. A thrilling race saw Boulevard Team Racing’s Rivett open an early lead while Onslow-Cole took 11 laps to pass Stephen Colbert for second place.
Once clear of the Ulsterman, Onslow-Cole reeled in Rivett’s lead but the two-time former Champion drove a controlled race, allowing no opportunities to pass. With just three laps of the short 1.20-mile circuit left, Onslow-Cole moved to the inside of Rivett on Brabham Straight. Both men were fully committed into Paddock Hill Bend, allowing each other just enough room to complete the corner as the large crowd held its collective breath. Onslow-Cole then kept his position on the inside to complete the pass at Druids hairpin, half a lap after the move began.
After securing the win, the task facing the teenager was to finish either in the top six in round 18, or anywhere ahead of Rivett. The former Champion ruled out the possibility of the latter with a dominant drive from pole position, while Onslow-Cole again became embroiled in an enthralling race with Byford and Michael Doyle.
The experienced Byford, who only joined the 2006 season midway through, claimed his second podium of the day in second place, Onslow-Cole beating Doyle, 18, to third place to clinch the title and spark jubilant scenes among his Total Control Racing team.
Commenting on his Championship win, Tom said: “It’s been such a long year and the pressure is on all the time – not
just when I’m racing because it’s always in my head away from the
track. It was another tough race today and it’s so difficult to pass
here. The battle with Martin was great fun, very clean as always with
him and a good race to win the title in.
“Martin and Paul have both been really tough opponents and I’ve learned
a lot from racing against them this year. I knew as soon as Paul signed
to race in the Championship that it would be difficult to win because
he’s won this twice before. For me, that makes this title even sweeter.”
Onslow-Cole now hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Renault
Champions Jason Plato and 2005 World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx
by launching his career in the British Touring Car Championship. Both
Plato and Priaulx won the Renault Sport Spider Cup, held for four years
prior to the Clio Cup.
Drivers’ Championship standings after Round 18 - provisional
| Pos. |
Driver |
Nationality |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Tom Onslow-Cole |
GBR |
Total Control Racing |
480 |
| 2 |
Paul Rivett |
GBR |
Boulevard Team Racing |
411 |
| 3 |
Stephen Colbert |
GBR |
Mardi Gras Motorsport |
337 |
| 4 |
Michael Doyle |
GBR |
JHR Racing Developments |
278 |
| 5 |
Robert Lawson |
GBR |
Mardi Gras Motorsport |
248 |
| 6 |
Mark Speller |
GBR |
Total Control Racing |
242 |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 December 2006 )
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