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Competition Winner Excels On Racing Debut |
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Tuesday, 17 October 2006 |
Milton Keynes-based James Clarkson made an immediate impact in the world of motorsport with an outstanding debut in the UK’s leading saloon-car racing Championship on 14th/15th October. James, 20, won a competition run by Nuts magazine to race in the ELF Renault Clio Cup at Silverstone with leading team Boulevard Team Racing and the former club karting champion didn’t disappoint by finishing 12th in his first race before retiring with mechanical problems in the second.
Originally from Launceston, Cornwall, James won four club karting titles in the south-west but his experience pales against the regular drivers in Clio Cup. One of his team-mates for the weekend was double former Clio Cup champion Paul Rivett, while the other, Martin Johnson, has raced in more than 100 Clio Cup races. James’ recent motorsport experience includes his studies in Motorsport Engineering at the National College of Motorsport near Silverstone.
Helping him overcome his inexperience was 2001 Clio Cup champion Danny Buxton and his tuition helped James to qualify 15th and 14th for the two races, despite a driveshaft problem. In race one, on Saturday, 14th October, James made up three places off the start line to run in 12th. He was able to keep former VW Cup champion Philip House and the talented Mel Healey behind him for the first 10 of the 20 laps. Only on lap 17 did House get past but James pushed him all the way to the finish, setting his fastest lap on the penultimate tour of the 1.64-mile circuit at 1min 07.602s (87.33mph).
In race two, the 20th and final round of the season, James made another good start to pick up two places to lie 12th at the end of lap one. He was passed by young Scottish sensation Michael Doyle on lap four, before being involved in one of the biggest incidents of the weekend. Overtaking Steve Wood as they came onto the main straight, Wood clipped the rear of James’ car and spun heavily into the pitwall, escaping unharmed thanks to the strength of the safety features on the Clio Cup cars.
Meanwhile, James ran onto the grass alongside the main straight, showing excellent car control and continuing several hundred metres, collecting an advertising board on his front bumper before rejoining the circuit. Not realising the board was blocking his radiator, James continued for two laps before pitting but sadly his engine seized under the extra pressure ending his race prematurely.
Commenting on his experience, James said: “To have been out there on the track was great and I didn’t stop
smiling all weekend. I felt quite at home and the whole atmosphere was
superb. The first lap of each race when all the cars are close and
there’s a bit of door-banging is fantastic fun.
“The incident with Steve was strange because I thought I had got
completely past him and then there was a slight touch. I just reacted
instinctively and it didn’t feel like a fluke or anything heroic to get
back on track. But (leading British Touring Car driver) Gordon Shedden
and (2000 Clio Cup champion) Jim Edwards Jnr both came up to me later
on and praised me for my car control, which is unbelievable.
“I definitely want to come back again next season and I’m already
working with Nick Keynes, who organised the Formula Nuts competition,
to raise a budget. It was great to have Danny there the whole weekend
and without him I would have really been struggling. Starting from the
back actually turned out to be a good thing because there was more
overtaking to do and plenty of action and I hope I can come back again
and experience it for a full
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 December 2006 )
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