ROUND 2 – ELF Renault Clio Cup / Rockingham, Northants, April 22nd 2007

Racing Rivals at Rockingham

Father and son racing duo Jonathan and David Shepherd both made it through to Sunday’s final at Rockingham on 22nd April 2007, supporting the high-profile British Touring Cars on the famous Rockingham oval circuit.

Following the disappointment at the previous Brands Hatch event when David was taken-out in the qualifying race, both drivers were delighted to be through to the main race, despite numerous incidents amid the packed grids of ELF Renault Clio Cup race cars.

With over 40 cars entered and only 36 places on the grid for Sunday’s main race, both drivers needed to finish in the top 18 from each of the two qualification races to make Sunday’s point scoring final.

A relieved David commented; “In my qualification race three cars didn’t get further than a few yards before coming together on the start straight causing the safety car to come out. I managed to gain quite a few places after the restart and finished in 13th place, which I was well pleased with considering what happened at Brands.”

Jonathan also made it through to the main race with a few good passing moves to finish 17th and secure his place just behind David in the Sunday race. With big crowds expected along with a few sponsors and guests, the pressure was on for both drivers to stay out of trouble and try to get into the top 20 points scoring positions by the end of the race.

The weather had been glorious on the Saturday, however Sunday’s forecast did predict the possibility of showers, which neither driver relished as they are both still learning the car and set-up and the added complication of a wet track was something they could do without.

By late afternoon the sun was still shining and Jonathan and David were getting ready to race each other for the first time in the Clio Cup championship. As expected large crowds filled the very impressive grandstands, which flank the banked oval circuit, eagerly anticipating a frantic, action-packed Clio race.

As the lights went to green both cars got away from the line well and headed along the main straight and towards the first banked corner flat-out, with Jonathan making the better start and closing up on David. Then suddenly two cars collided mid-pack sending one spinning towards the wall. Luckily both Team Gladman drivers got past, with Jonathan just missing a sideways spun Clio by millimetres, greeted by much applause from the crowds facing the main straight.

As the drivers braked hard into the tight hairpin which leads to the infield complex, the safety car was scrambled and backed-up the pack to enable the stranded and battered Clio’s to be removed to safety.

After two laps the safety car pulled in and racing resumed and with 36 cars jostling for position and sometimes three and four abreast, there were numerous spills and dust clouds as all the drivers battled hard in the opening laps.

Jonathan and David both gained places during the now shortened 9 lap race and never had a moment where they weren’t either attacking or defending right through to the chequered flag.

At the finish Jonathan was 26th and David 20th and in for his first point of the season, or so he thought. However after being called to see the Clerk of the Course for an incident mid-way through the race where he had unintentionally pushed another car into a spin, he subsequently had his point taken off him.

None of this drama dampened the spirits and both the drivers, the ‘Amery Motorsport’ team, sponsors Birchall and Conder along with their guests, all enjoyed a great day’s racing – bring on Thruxton!

You can watch the ELF Renault Clio Cup on ITV1’s Motorsport UK on Sunday evenings, check programme listings for times.

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