|
||||||||||
| Website design & hosting by BTCCPages. © Copyright 2002-2006 Paul Rivett All rights reserved. |
| Race Report - Rounds 11 & 12 - Donington Park | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul gets back on the top step of the podium at Donington Paul returned to winning ways at Donington Park, with victory in the second race of the weekend. Combined with second in race one, it made for a very rewarding outing on a track that often sees Paul turn in strong performances. Unfortunately, qualifying didn't quite go to plan with Paul lining up sixth on the grid for race one and fourth for race two. However, Paul made a superb start to race one, climbing from sixth to second during the opening lap. Tom Onslow-Cole's pace was once again electric at the front, but Paul stayed close throughout the race. Paul's race quickly became a battle with Steven Hunter behind him. The pair fought throughout, enjoying a close but clean duel. It was a race that Paul enjoyed immensely. "It was great", he said. "We had a really good race out there. It's good to be back at the front and enjoying the race. It was close racing, but it was good with Steven. I had a great time out there." Race two turned out to be even better. The day after the new Clio Cup race car was unveiled, this year's crop of racers put on one of their occasional chaotic displays. Fortunately for Paul, he was able to avoid the worst of the trouble during the race. After a couple of close encounters over the opening laps, Paul quickly found himself in the lead and was then able to cruise unchallenged to the chequered flag. "It was actually probably one of the easiest races I've ever had", said Paul afterwards. "I was just watching everybody going off left, right and centre all around me. I looked in my mirrors after the first couple of laps and there was nobody there. That was it, I just drove away. I didn't push, I just drove steadily all the way through." "You have to stay focused. It's easy to lose concentration when you've got such a big gap, but one little loss of concentration and you'll be off, and that'll be that." "It's been a great weekend. A second and a first and back on the podium. Back winning races. Hopefully that's the turning point and we're back there for the rest of the year. Tom [Onslow-Cole] can still afford to drop a few scores in the championship, so it's not going to make a massive difference on that front, but at the same time, it might hurt his momentum. We'll see how it goes." Rounds 13 & 14 of the 2006 Elf Renault UK Clio Cup take place at Snetterton over the weekend of 13/13 August. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
