ROUNDS 5 & 6 – ELF Renault Clio Cup
Donington Park, Leicestershire May 3rd/4th 2008

Drama & Damage At Donington

Confidence was high within the Team Gladman camp, following a successful test day prior to rounds five and six of the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup at Donington Park in Leicestershire.

But as the weekend unfolded, confidence was replaced with frustration as Jonathan Shepherd suffered two major crashes, whilst his son and team-mate David had problems in qualifying, which hampered his chances of a top six finish.

Having set the pace in testing on the Thursday prior to Saturdays qualifying session, David was confident as he left the pits to start his flying laps in his half hour qualifying run. Meanwhile Jonathan, after coming in to swap his tyres after a few warm-up laps for optimum tyre temperature, set off on his flying laps. Unfortunately Jonathan pushed too hard, too early and dropped a tyre off the edge of the kerb exiting the ‘Esses’ which pitched the car backwards at high speed in to the concrete pitwall, causing major damage and resulting in the red flags being waved and the session stopped.

Relieved to hear his dad was unhurt, David set-off as the session was restarted in the hope of a top six grid slot. However, unlike on the test-day, the car would not respond due to a slightly damaged steering arm and David suffered handfuls of understeer through ‘Redgate’ and ‘Coppice’ corners leaving him a disappointed 18th and 16th on the grid for the two races to follow.

Race one, was late on Saturday afternoon and it was touch and go whether Jonathans car would be fixed in time. Needless to say the Amery Motorsport team rose to the challenge and much to the surprise of everyone in the paddock, car number 21 proudly lined up on the grid.

As the race started David made a good start and tucked-in to the pack as they sped down through the infamous ‘Craner Curves’. With so many Clios, so tightly packed and still not enough heat in the tyres, the inevitable happened and two cars span in front of David, forcing him off into the gravel through no fault of his own and ending his race on the very first lap. Jonathan meanwhile with a car that was now a lot shorter than it was previously, did his best to control both understeer and oversteer, managing to finish in 22nd place overall.

Sunday’s race two, saw both drivers lining-up in similar positions on the grid to Saturdays debacle, with both drivers hoping for better fortunes and to bag some points. This time it was Jonathan’s turn to be the victim after gaining a few places at the start, he was t-boned by a spinning car as he exited ‘McLeans’ corner on the very first lap. Limping back to the pits it was then decided for safety reasons to call it a day.

David meanwhile was on a mission and quickly settled into a good pace, picking off a few places early in the race. Each time he passed a car he would close on the next and obviously had rediscovered his testing pace. Eventually finishing 11th having started in 16th place David was pleased with his performance, especially when the data showed he was lapping only 0.3 seconds slower than the race winner and championship leader Ben Winrow.

David said after the race, “I like Donington, but it doesn’t seem to like the Shepherds too much. At least I gained a few points and proved I’m right on the pace, so I’m quite chuffed with that”.

Sponsors; Birchall, Conder Structures and Interlock Paving all enjoyed the action and a big thanks goes out the Amery Motorsport team, who pulled-out all the stops only to see Jonathans car battered again in race two, but that’s motorsport!

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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