|
A
stunning start from Kieren Clark, the 19 year old racer from Cambridge, enabled
him to score another top ten finish in round 4 of the Formula Renault UK
championship, watched live by nearly 450,000 TV viewers.
With
the cars at the head of the race in procession, the cameras focussed on the
battles surrounding the Apotex Scorpio driver for much of the race, giving
sensational live TV coverage.
The
qualifying sessions on Saturday did not yield the promise hoped for, and grid
positions of 16th and 15th were the best Kieren could achieve. So once again,
if there was to be any good finishes, it had to come in the races.
In
the first race, starting on the outside of the banked Rockingham straight, KC
made a good start but Rossi, on the inside position made an even better one and
relegated both Kieren and Josh Scott, his Apotex Scorpio team mate, back one
place. KC chased Josh hard for 2 laps and made the move coming out of the
hairpin to move up 1 place. For the next 3 laps the 2 cars were glued together
until Josh made the better line coming out of the turn 1 into the hairpin to
reverse the position. On lap 8 Oakes, ahead of the 2 Apotex Scorpio cars locked
wheels into the final chicane and KC was able to slip through on the inside,
but the unfortunate Josh slid wide to avoid collision and ended his race in the
gravel. With breathing space behind, KC got his head down to chase Rossi, now
some 4,5 seconds ahead and managed to close the gap to 2,5 seconds at the end
of the race, to finish 15th.
The
second race was scheduled for Sunday mid afternoon, directly after the touring
car round 2, and with a packed crowd and live TV coverage, KC was determined to
improve on his grid position. Starting on the inside of the track, KC had a
stunning start and shot up the inside of the pack and made up 5 places into the
first hairpin. In the tussle behind, some contact caused the safety car to be
deployed for 5 laps. A good restart got KC chasing Pentus ahead of him and in
the next lap managed to take the position on the fast run in to the first
hairpin for 9th place. Behind, Callardo was also moving up, and
challenged KC on lap 10 cutting on the inside of the banking for a clean move
into the first hairpin. KC wasn’t going to concede the place easily and re-took
position at the next hairpin, but Colardo got the better grip on the exit and
managed to pull past on the run onto the main straight. With this tussle,
Pentus had closed the gap and challenged KC along the fast turn 1 but KC held
position and managed to pull some space over the remaining laps of the exciting
24 lap race for a well deserved 10th place and first car home for
the Apotex Scorpio team.
“That
was such a mint start” explained Kieren, “and I managed to keep away from
everyone into the tight first hairpin, not sure what happened behind me but the
safety car for the next few laps was getting a bit dull. I was ready for it to
pull in though, and got away well, but couldn’t make enough speed to get any
advantage. It did set me up for the next lap when I got the better line through
turn 1 to take Sten (Pentus). James
(Calado) made a good move on me, I was determined to get the place back, but
just couldn’t keep it there. Another top ten though, I’m chuffed with that, but
I’ve really got to sort out my qualifying!”
The
next Rounds of the Formula Renault UK championship are at Donington on May 3rd
and 4th, again supporting the British Touring Car Championship
rounds, with big crowds expected, along with live TV coverage on the Sunday, of
the afternoon’s events.
Keep
an eye on Kieren’s website in the next week for details of a fantastic
money-cant-buy prize for the next BTCC touring car round. www.kierenclark.com
|
News 
