AS SERIES RETURNS TO ACTION AT PICTURESQUE OULTON PARK
Finesse Motorsport is focused on nothing less than a return to the podium at Oulton Park Island Circuit in Cheshire next weekend, 4th/5th June, when the Renault UK Clio Cup resumes after a four week break.
Despite a trying outing at Thruxton in Hampshire last time out, race winners Finesse are still fifth in the team standings while drivers Paul Streather and Daniel Rowbottom head into the fourth event of the season fifth and 12th in the title race respectively.
As during the previous event earlier this month, the Finesse regulars will again be joined by British GT racer Jake Giddings in a third Clio as he bolsters the Cambridgeshire team’s championship attack in the one-make category.
Oulton’s undulating 2.2-mile track is one all three competitors are looking forward to, and each is determined to battle for silverware in rounds seven and eight. Notably, Giddings will arrive back at the Cheshire track a week from now fresh from competing on the longer International Circuit layout this Bank Holiday Weekend at the wheel of an Aston Martin in British GT.
Streather, of course, is already a race winner in his first season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support category – the Leicestershire driver taking a magnificent victory in the opening round at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit – and also has one other podium to his credit in 2016.
As one of Streather’s least favourite tracks, Thruxton was always going to be one of the more trying weekends of the season but the Michael Smith Switchgear and AVW Fabrications-backed driver still made marked improvements throughout the event to conclude the race meeting with a best finish of sixth place in round six.
Rowbottom meanwhile, who linked-up with Finesse prior to the second race meeting of the season at Donington Park, has a best finish of sixth place under his belt thus far in his first full year of racing since 2008.
Even with over seven years away from full-time competition, the Kidderminster racer has been consistently in the upper order at the wheel of his Team EcoMotive branded Clio and is determined to edge closer to the front-running battle at Oulton.
“Oulton’s a great track, always a fantastic place for Clio racing, and we’re going there aiming to be back at the front”, said Finesse team principal Neil Giddings, “It’s unfortunate the way Thruxton turned out but that’s in the past, we’re all focused on Oulton and moving back up the championship.
“I’m sure Paul will be back where he should be fighting for the podium and even though Thruxton wasn’t as good as he wanted, he still came away with a top six. Dan’s definitely got the ability to be up there with him too and with Jake back with us again, we’re all going to Oulton aiming as high as we can – as we always do.”
After pre-event testing on Friday, 3rd June, qualifying at Oulton Park will get underway at 10.55 on Saturday, 4th June, with round seven following at 16.00. On Sunday, 5th June, round eight is set to begin at around 13.25 and will be screened live on ITV4 and live online HERE
Provisional 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd6):5th Paul Streather, 121pts; 12th Daniel Rowbottom, 56pts; 19th Jake Giddings, 18pts
Provisional 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Entrants’ Trophy Standings (after Rd6):5th Finesse Motorsport, 171pts
