ROUNDS 3&4 – ELF Renault Clio Cup
Rockingham, Northants, April 12/13th

Driver of the day award for David, at an action packed Rockingham

Rounds three and four of the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup saw the championship visit the superb Rockingham raceway in Northamptonshire. Using the International layout, which takes in the infamous banked Turn One, Rockingham proves a real challenge for all 30 drivers as they hope for good results following the red flag dramas at Brands Hatch.

Team Gladman, father and son racing duo – Jonathan and David Shepherd were looking forward to the challenge, following on from a good test day on the Friday, however the British weather played its hand again during qualifying, as black clouds loomed overhead as the cars headed onto the circuit. A last minute change of strategy saw David have his tyres switched to full qualifying set-up from the off as opposed to the normal practice of a tyre swap after a few laps to help gain heat in the rears.

This tactic nearly paid off as the rain did start falling, but unfortunately a couple of laps too early for David’s strategy to work as all the drivers were forced to pull into the pits. Posting 9th quickest time overall, his second fastest lap which determined his starting position for Sunday’s race two, had to be set on wet tyres on a wet track, meaning David only finished 27th on the grid for race two.

Jonathan achieved the opposite to David, qualifying 21st for race one and gaining his best grid position to date, taking 13th place on the grid for race two. A delighted Jonathan said, “I’m very pleased with today, not just the grid position, but having studied the data from testing, I knew where I could make time and instantly found half a second on my first flying lap”.

Sunday morning’s race one was dry and both cars were set-up accordingly. David made a superb start and was up to fifth by the second corner. Approaching the tight hairpin at speeds of over 130mph as the cars leave the fast banked oval, David was collected by car 20 as it locked-up approaching the hairpin far too fast, pushing him into another car and losing him many places in the process, meaning he eventually ended the race in 20th position with his car suffering damaged suspension.

Jonathan suffered much the same fate as David, being fired off at turn two by car 3 and rejoining at the back with severely damaged side bodywork and suspension and no chance of catching the pack.
Race two on Sunday afternoon stayed dry and with Jonathan starting from 13th on the grid, it was David who had the biggest challenge from 27th on the grid, to try and get in the points. Both drivers made a good start and as the field of 30 cars entered the fast banked oval of Turn One, three cars entangled and hit the wall causing major damage and the introduction of the safety car.

The wreckage was eventually cleared and racing resumed, with David now in 16th place and Jonathan two places behind in 18th. David quickly got up to pace and started attacking and gaining places, making several excellent late braking moves into the hairpin, which eventually rewarded him with 13th place at the chequered flag and the Renault ‘Driver of the Day’ award.

Jonathan meanwhile spent the rest of the race trying to defend his position from ex-touring car driver Gavin Pyper, to eventually concede the place on the penultimate lap, finishing 19th and still in the points.
Sponsors; Birchall, Conder Structures and Interlock Paving all enjoyed the action and with another tally of points it was another successful weekend for Team Gladman and Amery Motorsport who once again gave the drivers two very well prepared race cars.

You can watch the ELF Renault Clio Cup live on ITV Four and further coverage on Motorsport UK, check programme listings for times.
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