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| Race Report - Rounds 1 & 2 - Thruxton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A win to start the season
The fast Thruxton circuit is one that has previously yielded mixed results for Paul - in 2002 he took a win and a third place there, but also suffered a huge shunt when he was the first of many to hit oil that had been dropped at the chicane. With the Clios having been given a boost of around 10bhp this year, the first two races of the season - which like the others throughout the year, were to be shown live on satellite channel Motors TV - were sure to bring all the excitement usually associated with the Clio Cup. The season got off to the best possible start, with Paul taking pole position for both of the opening races, with series newcomer Jonathon Adam lining up alongside him on the front row. With round one getting underway on Sunday morning, it was Paul who took the early lead, fighting off a challenge from Adam to move ahead at the Complex. There was chaos behind the frontrunners however as a number of cars spun out. 2003 runner-up Ed Pead took up third position, ahead of Nick Adcock. Within a couple of laps, Pead had managed to steal second from Adam and was closing on Paul. Paul commented: "I was struggling a bit with a lack of power compared to some of the others, which really didn't help. It meant that I just couldn't keep them behind me." With a move at the chicane that pushed Paul off the track and across the grass, Pead took the lead of the race, and at the same time, Adam was also able to sneak through. Continuing to suffer on the power front, Nick Adcock also passed Paul on lap eight, and the pair enjoyed a close battle over the following laps. Finally it was Paul who emerged with the upper hand, and the final podium position behind Pead and Adam, re-passing Adcock on the way in to the Goodwood bend on the final lap. Race two later in the day was a more straightforward affair, with Paul leading from lights to flag. Driving a confident race, he made a strong start and dealt with the early safety car period with no problems. Behind, Ed Pead was involved in a five car battle before closing on Paul towards the end of the race. However Paul was able to hold off the Mardi Gras racer to take the chequered flag and take his first win of the season. "It's not a bad start to the season", said Paul. "I don't think there is a single car that has come back without some damage, so we haven't done too badly. We've got a win and it hasn't left us too far behind in the championship. It's just good to be back out there and I'm just enjoying racing again." Rounds 3 & 4 take place on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit over the weekend of 24/25 April. |
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Entering his first full season in the Elf/BTE Lawline Clio Cup since being crowned champion, Paul remains with Boulevard Team Racing in 2004 - the team with whom he won the Clio Cup winter series in November last year. After a pre-season test at Snetterton in early April, the championship got underway at Thruxton over the Easter weekend.
