SV Racing’s (SVR) Ant Whorton-Eales retains his lead in the Renault UK Clio Cup Drivers’ standings after achieving a podium finish at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit, as Mitchell Hale overcame throttle issues in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup to produce a stunning drive from last to fourth position (9-10 May).
In spectacular UK Clio Cup fashion, Sunday’s (10 May) opening race saw the field run bumper-to-bumper throughout the 12-lap contest, with Lichfield’s Whorton-Eales quickly scything his way up the order to fifth by the close of the opening tour having started from seventh, before disposing of both Jordan Stilp and three-time Champion, Paul Rivett, for third.
Whorton-Eales would eventually cross the line in third position to claim his fifth consecutive piece of silverware and maintain his 100 per cent podium run.
Clio Cup rookie, Mitchell, ran solidly in the Safety Car-interrupted race, using his initiative to climb several places at Cobb corner following an incident involving returnee James Colburn and Dan Holland, before bringing his car home in an impressive seventh with just 0.070s separating him and Charlie Ladell at the line.
In the weekend’s second and final race, Whorton-Eales started from the rear of the grid in 11th but, at the close of the opening tour, had risen to seventh position.
The red mist descended upon Whorton-Eales, as he once again used his years’ of experience in Britain’s premier one-make series to knock heavily on the door of another podium finish.
He continued to push his fourth-generation Clio to the limit, running nose-to-tail with Rivett, but was unable to make his way through despite intense pressure and left Hampshire still in the lead of the Drivers’ standings.
“It hasn’t been a bad weekend,” said Whorton-Eales. “I was a victim of the track limits rule in qualifying, which meant I had to start seventh and 11th, but we’ve turned those grid positions into some solid points and we can’t complain about that. The front tyres hate it around here and are scrap within three laps, but we made positive changes to the car for the second race, which is why we were able to hold onto our tyres towards the end and challenge for a podium.
“This isn’t my strongest track, so to leave here with a 13-point lead is mega. The whole SV Racing team has done a fantastic job and the car’s setup has been brilliant all weekend. We will now crack on at the other tracks we’re fast at and see what we can do.”
Hale was squeezed down to eighth on the initial run through Allard in the weekend’s opening Ginetta GT4 Supercup race on Saturday (9 May), but, determined to show the great turn of pace he demonstrated last time out at Donington Park before electrical issues hampered his races, he quickly snatched back his original starting position at the conclusion of the second tour and – despite a four-year sabbatical from motorsport – showed no signs of rust to move up to sixth position.
Having showed great pace in race one, the day’s second race would end in a disappointing fashion. The Bristol driver was once again squeezed on the inside of Turn 1 as the 15-car field bolted off the line and, while his initial performance suggested he had emerged unscathed from the tussle, mechanical issues would force him into retirement.
The team replaced the G55’s throttle body overnight and it seemed to have paid of dividends, as Hale quickly scythed his way through the field in the weekend’s final race, promoting himself up four places by the conclusion of the first tour to knock on the door of the top ten.
After a brief lull to proceedings following the appearance of the Safety Car, Hale, to quote M People’s famous 1993 single, was ‘Moving on Up’ through the field at the restart, picking off yet more of his rivals to move up to seventh and join a five-car tussle for fourth position.
As the laps counted down, Hale set the fastest lap of the race to continue rising through the ranks to fourth position, which he would hold up the chequered flag to conclude an astonishing drive, having started from the very rear of the field in 15th.
“The weekend didn’t start off too well to be honest, but that last race more than made up for it,” said Hale. “We had a few teething problems at the start of the weekend, but Ginetta did a really good job in fixing and getting the car here. We have a test planned at Oulton Park in the coming weeks, so we will be all singing and all dancing.
“If you had asked me before the final race if I was happy with the weekend I would have said “no”, but after that final race, I am very happy with this weekend. We have shown that we have the pace and that is good enough for me at the minute.”
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