Mixed fortunes for Jack in Rounds 5 & 6
Rounds 5 & 6 of the 2010 Renault Clio Cup with Michelin held mixed fortunes for Jack with a DNF on Saturday and a storming drive to an eventual 6th place in the second race on Sunday, along with the NGK fastest lap award.
Qualifying did not go smoothly at Brands Hatch with a hard pushing Jack having a major ‘moment’ at Paddock Hill bend, almost rolling the car and skimming though the gravel trap before regaining his line. This resulted in the loss of valuable track time as the gravel was removed from the car. Jack showed great composure in returning to the session and set respectable times, despite a puncture coming out of the pit lane, to secure 12th position for Race 1 and 10th for Race 2.
Race 1 started well with Jack making 2 places by the end of the first lap, a feat which was to be repeated on lap 6 to put him in a strong 8th position. He held 8th for a further 4 laps but picked up a slow puncture, the tyre eventually coming off the wheel rim with only 2 laps remaining.
Sunday’s race was a different story with atrociously wet conditions from the start. Just after the first bend, Paddock Hill, 4 cars in front and 2 cars behind Jack span off. Showing great skill and avoidance he emerged unscathed and headed uphill towards Druids. By the end of the first lap he had reached 6th position from 10th on the grid, a place he briefly lost to Rob Gaffney in a nip and tuck first half of the race. Jack had 5th position well in his sights and was closing hard on a recovering Mike Robinson, but on lap 8 had a trip into the gravel at Stirling Bend, the fast left hander on the GP loop. He recovered well to once again chase down Robinson in the closing stages, setting the fastest lap in the process. At Clearways on the last lap Jack made an audacious lunge and finally passed Robinson. Jack’s tenacity in securing his highest placed 5th finish drew loud cheers from all our sponsors and supporters, but the stewards penalised Jack for his ‘ambitious’ move and issued a 4 second penalty, leaving him in a very creditable 6th place.
Rounds 5 & 6 of the 2010 Renault Clio Cup with Michelin held mixed fortunes for Jack with a DNF on Saturday and a storming drive to an eventual 6th place in the second race on Sunday, along with the NGK fastest lap award.
Qualifying did not go smoothly at Brands Hatch with a hard pushing Jack having a major ‘moment’ at Paddock Hill bend, almost rolling the car and skimming though the gravel trap before regaining his line. This resulted in the loss of valuable track time as the gravel was removed from the car. Jack showed great composure in returning to the session and set respectable times, despite a puncture coming out of the pit lane, to secure 12th position for Race 1 and 10th for Race 2.
Race 1 started well with Jack making 2 places by the end of the first lap, a feat which was to be repeated on lap 6 to put him in a strong 8th position. He held 8th for a further 4 laps but picked up a slow puncture, the tyre eventually coming off the wheel rim with only 2 laps remaining.
Sunday’s race was a different story with atrociously wet conditions from the start. Just after the first bend, Paddock Hill, 4 cars in front and 2 cars behind Jack span off. Showing great skill and avoidance he emerged unscathed and headed uphill towards Druids. By the end of the first lap he had reached 6th position from 10th on the grid, a place he briefly lost to Rob Gaffney in a nip and tuck first half of the race. Jack had 5th position well in his sights and was closing hard on a recovering Mike Robinson, but on lap 8 had a trip into the gravel at Stirling Bend, the fast left hander on the GP loop. He recovered well to once again chase down Robinson in the closing stages, setting the fastest lap in the process. At Clearways on the last lap Jack made an audacious lunge and finally passed Robinson. Jack’s tenacity in securing his highest placed 5th finish drew loud cheers from all our sponsors and supporters, but the stewards penalised Jack for his ‘ambitious’ move and issued a 4 second penalty, leaving him in a very creditable 6th place.
