The MAC Tools-supported Ollie Pidgley is delighted with what was achieved on his Renault UK Clio Cup debut on the world-famous Brands Hatch Indy circuit (1-3 April).
Pidgley’s maiden UK Clio Cup weekend got off to a solid start, as the Ciceley Motorsport driver recorded the tenth fastest time – 53.1s – in first practice on Friday (1 April), before improving to seventh in FP2 later that same day with a time of 52.805s that was just four tenths off the pace.
Confidence was high going into qualifying the following day (Saturday 2 April), as there was a feeling that simple changes to Pidgley’s driving style could potentially result in significant gains.
But while there was an overnight improvement in Pidgley’s lap time, it was relatively small compared to many of his rivals and the Wiltshire-based teenager subsequently qualified 16th for race one and 13th for the second encounter, with the same four tenths deficit to the eventual polesitter.
Pidgley remained optimistic, aware that hundredths of a second can be the difference between qualifying on the front row of the grid or on the outskirts of the top ten, but his inexperience would be his downfall at the start of race one on Saturday (2 April) afternoon.
Starts are notoriously difficult on Brands Hatch’s undulating grid and a poor start saw Pidgley tumble down the order as the field dipped down Paddock Hill Bend for the first time.
The opening lap scrum allowed Pidgley to stay on terms with the pack and, keen to make amends, the teenager commenced an admirable recovery through the field, remaining in Anton Spires’ wheel-tracks before making one final move on the PP Motorsport driver for 16th place and hinting at his potential by recording the second fastest lap of the race.
That his best lap time was a mere two tenths off the hugely experienced Ant Whorton-Eales’ fastest inspired a lot of confidence and Pidgley reflected on the race by saying: “It was the first time I had to do a downhill start with my toe on the brake and I kept a little too much pressure on the pedal. Nevertheless, I was able to stay on terms with the pack during the opening lap. You’re guaranteed to see a few people getting out of shape as drivers fight for track position and I worked together with Anton Spires for a few laps as we made our way into the main pack. I eventually passed him and kept plugging away, setting the second fastest lap that was only slightly slower than the race winner’s best, so I proved I am quick enough to be at the front. It was a good race in the end.”
Pidgley’s first objective for race two on Sunday (3 April) afternoon was to maximise his start and stay out of harm’s way in the typical first-lap melee, using lessons learned from analysing on-board footage with former Clio Cup Champion and mentor, Danny Buxton.
A quick launch allowed Pidgley to swiftly dispose of two rivals on the initial charge to Paddock Hill Bend, before having to concede the positions again after being forced onto the wide line through the steep right-hander.
However, the rapid Salisbury resident utilised his strong race pace to gain track position during a race-long push through the field that encompassed typical UK Clio Cup door handle-to-door handle antics and concluded with him finishing 11th and second in the Graduate Cup.
At the close of a hugely encouraging maiden UK Clio Cup weekend, Pidgley said: “The weekend has been positive. My race pace was very strong throughout and it was qualifying that let me down, simply because I failed to bring the tyres up to temperature quickly enough and then didn’t make use of them when they were at their peak. It just didn’t come together and that put me on the back foot for the races, but you live and learn and I’m obviously hoping to continue moving forwards in the next round at Donington Park.
“There’s a lot of fierce competition in the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup and gaining anything is a big achievement, but I knew what to expect and I never thought I would be this competitive this early. I’m closer to the pace than I expected and we have achieved more than I could have imagined, so I’m more than satisfied.”
Round 2 of the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup will take place at the history-rich Donington Park circuit on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border on 15-17 April.