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Timely Boost For Fildes Ahead Of Season Opener |
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Monday, 26 March 2007 |
Total Control Racing’s Jonathan Fildes enjoyed a timely confidence boost today, with less than a week to wait until the first race meeting of the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup, by showing superb pace during official testing at Rockingham Motor Speedway.
Organised by Renault Sport UK ahead of this weekend’s championship curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, today’s test at the 1.95-mile International Supersports layout was put into place to allow Jonathan and his fellow competitors to test brand new suspension support brackets following a spate of recent safety concerns.
Jonathan, of course, suffered from an unexplained breakage to his front
suspension at Brands Hatch during official testing a fortnight ago but
there were no such worries today at Rockingham where the 31-year-old
from Co.Meath lapped consistently inside the top two before ending the
day fifth overall – even though he chose to remain on old tyres.
“I’m very happy with our pace today, we were consistently fast and for
the majority of the time I was on track we were in the top two”, said
Jonathan, “Everyone started to use new tyres during the last part of
the test but we stayed with old rubber and still ended up fifth overall
at the end which was great.
“Lee (Brookes – TCR team boss) said it was a good achievement to be so
quick on old tyres and we’re looking in very good shape so I really am
delighted. Everything seems absolutely fine with the suspension which
is good news so close to the first race. Today has been a big
confidence boost and I can’t wait for this weekend’s races now.”
While allaying any concerns which may have remained following the
suspension issues of two weeks ago, today’s outing also gave Jonathan
and the TCR crew some welcome experience of Rockingham’s International
Supersports layout ahead of the second round of the season which will
take place at the Northamptonshire venue on 21st/22nd April.
The Asgard Taverns, Applied Signs & Display and Barry Evans
Plastics-backed star will return to track action at Brands Hatch this
Friday, 30th March, for pre-event testing ahead of the weekend’s season
opening ELF Renault Clio Cup event.
With well over 40 drivers entering the championship this year, the
format of the Clio Cup has changed somewhat with drivers now split into
two separate groups for qualifying ahead of a pair of qualifying races.
There will now be one points-scoring encounter each weekend, therefore
meaning 10 championship races throughout the course of the year.
Qualifying ahead of round one of the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup is
scheduled to take place at 11.30 on Saturday, 31st March, with the
qualifying races timetabled to follow at 17.15 and 17.45. Round one,
which is expected to be shown live via cable and digital satellite
broadcaster Setanta Sports, will take place at 15.30 on Sunday, 1st
April.
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