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[Renault Clio Cup UK] Onslow-cole Holds Nerve To Extend Championship Lead |
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Sunday, 14 May 2006 |
ONSLOW-COLE HOLDS NERVE TO EXTEND CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Tom Onslow-Cole (New Malden, Surrey) kept his nerve in difficult conditions to win round three of the ELF Renault Clio Cup Championship at Oulton Park Island on Saturday, 13th May. The Championship leader led from the front after pole-sitter Paul Rivett (Banstead, Surrey) pulled into the pits on the parade lap and won when the race was stopped by a red flag on lap seven.
With the day’s events running behind schedule, the decision was taken to reduce the race to 20 minutes rather than the expected 13 laps. Onslow-Cole received his first boost before the green flag dropped as his nearest challenger in the title race, Boulevard Team Racing’s Rivett, encountered a technical fault on the warm up lap and played no further part in the afternoon’s proceedings.
The Total Control Racing star made a good start from second on the grid in wet conditions, rebuffing the overtaking attempt of his team-mate Nick Adcock (Bromyard, Hereford) at the first corner, Old Hall. Series debutant Philip House, driving for the PH Motorsport with JHR team, followed Adcock closely through the first lap and was just 0.06s behind after one tour of the 2.23-mile Cheshire circuit.
Also gaining ground were JHR Racing Developments’ Steven Hunter (Coal Aston, Dronfield) and his young team-mate Michael Doyle (Gartocharn, West Dunbartonshire) who climbed two and five places respectively. However, Doyle was soon passed by Mardi Gras Motorsport’s Robert Lawson (Richmond, N Yorks) who gave an impressive display in just his third-ever outing in car racing.
Home favourite Mark Fell (Preston) endured a disappointing day with a return of his gearbox problem from qualifying dropping him to last place, before the Safety Car was deployed when Robertshaw Racing’s Gary Robertshaw (Whitley Bay) went off the circuit and into the tyre wall at Old Hall.
The Safety Car led the 15-car field for six minutes with racing resuming on lap six. But the action was short-lived as Fell, looking to make up ground as quickly as possible, tapped Team Pyro’s Mel Healey (Cheam, Surrey) into a spin before sliding off the circuit to end his race. Race stewards then made the decision to end the race, leaving Onslow-Cole to take victory from Adcock and House.
Commenting after his second win of the season, Onslow-Cole, who celebrates his 19th birthday on Tuesday, said: “I had a great start and was able to open a gap over the two cars behind me. It’s always difficult to lead in the rain because the guy behind can gauge how hard to push by what the leader does but I think I coped with it well because car control is one of my strengths.”
His team-mate, Nick Adcock, admitted it was frustrating to finish second after making a clean start, saying: “I felt I got away well but Tom managed to match me. I tried to go down the inside at the first corner and we were side by side for a while but he kept me behind. It’s slightly frustrating but given the conditions it’s nice to get a podium finish.”
For House, it was a first visit to the Clio Cup podium in just his third race in the series and he feels he is now starting to find his way, saying: “The team has done a great job preparing the car and I’m learning how to handle it better as each race passes. I was able to qualify at the right end of the grid and got the right result.”
Drivers’ Championship standings after Round Three - provisional
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team | Points | | 1 | Tom Onslow-Cole | GBR | Total Control Racing | 96 | | 2 | Nick Adcock | GBR | Total Control Racing | 57 | | 3 | Paul Rivett | GBR | Boulevard Team Racing | 54 | | 4 | Steven Hunter | GBR | JHR Racing Developments | 50 | | 5 | Robert Lawson | GBR | Mardi Gras Motorsport | 50 | | 6 | Stephen Colbert | GBR | Mardi Gras Motorsport | 45 | | 7 | Philip House | GBR | PH Motorsport with JHR | 41 | | 8 | Michael Doyle | GBR | JHR Racing Developments | 40 | | 9 | James Williams | GBR | Total Control Racing | 36 | | 10 | Mel Healey | GBR | Team Pyro | 35 |
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