|
Thruxton Test Sees Lawson Make His Mark |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 17 April 2007 |
Robert Lawson (Richmond, N Yorks) was quickest overall in official ELF Renault Clio Cup testing at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit on Wednesday, 11th April. The JHR Developments driver lapped the 2.36-mile circuit in a time of 1min 24.232s (100.68mph). Total Control Racing’s Ben Winrow (Earls Barton) was second quickest on combined times 0.151s behind, while Team Eurotech-John Guest Speedfit’s Andrew Jordan (Sutton Coldfield) was third, a further 0.032s adrift.
TCR’s Jonathan Fildes (Co Meath) was fourth on combined times, with fellow Irishman Árón Smith (Rathfarnham) in fifth. Kangaroo International/SMC Renault/JHR’s Jim Edwards Jnr completed the top six on combined times, ahead of championship leader Ed Pead (Northampton).
Aside from Fildes, the top 12 drivers improved their times in the
second of the day’s two sessions, while 31 drivers achieved the feat
overall. Amery Motorsport’s David Shepherd (Sandbach) climbed from 28th
in session one to finish 18th overall, while Ant Scragg (Tunbridge
Wells) jumped five places to 25th. The top 20 drivers lapped the
high-speed circuit within two seconds of the leader.
Fildes set the pace in session one with a time of 1min 24.547s
(100.30mph). Lawson was the only other driver to average more than
100mph in the first session, with a time of 1min 24.554s (100.29mph).
Round one winner Ed Pead was fourth quickest, narrowly ahead of his
Mardi Gras Motorsport team-mate Árón Smith. Andrew Jordan, second at
Brands Hatch in round one, was 11th quickest, while the top 18 drivers
were covered by less than two seconds. Newcomer Dean Hobson (Barnsley),
who will make his Clio Cup debut at the Thruxton event in May driving
for Booker Motorsport, was 26th quickest of the 40 drivers present.
Commenting on the test, Robert Lawson said: “I think the difference
between being second in the morning and quickest this afternoon is just
more track time. It’s not a circuit we test at very often so simply
completing more laps is bound to improve your time and I think that’s
clear given this afternoon’s times.”
The test was held in place of the usual Friday test day prior to the
two race meetings at Thruxton this season, due to noise restrictions at
the circuit. Round three of the ELF Renault Clio Cup will be held at
Thruxton on 5th/6th May.
|
