Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire will be the venue for the fifth event of the Renault UK Clio Cup season this coming weekend, 18th/19th June, where top team Finesse Motorsport is determined to make an overdue return to the podium.
Just a week ago at Oulton Park, the race-winning squad hoped to mount a challenge for silverware but illness for championship contender Paul Streather resulted in a somewhat muted outing for the round one victor who, at one stage, wasn’t certain to compete.
Ahead of rounds nine and 10 of the campaign, the Michael Smith Switchgear and AVW Fabrications backed racer wants nothing less than podium success as he aims to climb back up the championship standings from his current placing of sixth – at this point, though, he is still feeling particularly under the weather.
“If I’m better I’ll be going as hard as I can”, said Streather, “I haven’t done a great deal at Croft before but I’m hoping we can get back where we should be. We knew what Thruxton would be, but I was really disappointed by Oulton. I couldn’t tell the team how I wanted the car as my concentration was so off because of how I felt. If I’m fighting fit at the weekend, I’ll be fighting from the front!”
On the positive side at Oulton, Daniel Rowbottom produced his most competitive showing of the year with exceptional pace in both races. Lapping within just 0.1 seconds of the fastest lap at the wheel of his EcoMotive liveried Clio, he matched his season-best top six finish and looks set to be a real front-running challenger at Croft.
Piloting a re-shelled car last time out, coupled with real progress in terms of adjusting to the driving style required to get the most out of his Clio, Rowbottom is confident his maiden rostrum visit is only a matter of time – preferably a few days from now at Croft. If he achieves his maiden silverware, it will be a double celebration as Rowbottom is getting married later this week the day before testing!
Looking forward to the Croft double-header, team principal Neil Giddings said: “We’re going all out to get back on the podium at the weekend, hopefully Paul is going to be feeling 100% and, if he is, we know he’ll be back at the sharp end. Oulton was a great weekend for Dan, his pace was fantastic and if he can replicate that at Croft he’s got every chance of fighting for the podium.”
After pre-event testing on Friday, 17th June, qualifying for rounds nine and 10 of the Renault UK Clio Cup season will take place at 11.20 on Saturday, 18th June, with the first race of the weekend getting underway at 17.15. On Sunday, 19th June, the second contest – which will be screened live on ITV4 – is scheduled to begin at approximately 15.50.
Provisional 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd8):6th Paul Streather, 141pts; 10th Daniel Rowbottom, 88pts; 18th Jake Giddings, 31pts
Provisional 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Entrants’ Trophy Standings (after Rd8):5th Finesse Motorsport, 223pts
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