Fildes takes first podium of the season

Round four of the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup at Croft Circuit on  Sunday, 3rd June, could well prove to be the turning point of the season for Jonathan Fildes, the popular Irishman finally recording his first points-scoring finish of the campaign and with it making a richly deserved return to the podium.Having been eliminated from the first three race meetings of the season through no fault of his own whatsoever, the Co.Meath star qualified strongly on Saturday with the second fastest time in his group, a lap of 1m 33.403 seconds (81.90mph).In his qualification race, the Asgard Taverns, Applied Signs & Display, Atari Expo and Barry Evans Plastics-sponsored driver made a great start and at Tower Bend on lap one he passed pole-sitter Philip House with ease before going on to take the win.The result meant Jonathan would start Sunday’s feature race from second position and after another good getaway he maintained the place comfortably throughout to claim his first podium since returning to Clios at the start of the seasonImportantly, the 28 points secured for second position mean Jonathan has rocketed a full 23 places up the championship standings and although 16th isn’t where he wants to be, the Total Control Racing ace is of the firm belief the next round at Oulton Park in Cheshire will bring more success and, hopefully, his first win of the year.“This weekend is the first time I’ve got through the first corner of the points-scoring race intact so I’m absolutely delighted, not just for me but for the TCR boys and of course my fantastic sponsors who have all been at Croft”, said Jonathan, “We really needed this result and I’m confident we can now go on and climb much further up the championship.” Round five of the ELF Renault Clio Cup season, the halfway point of the championship, will take place three weeks from now on 23rd/24th June at Oulton Park Island Circuit in Cheshire. Pre-event testing will be held on Friday, 22nd June.

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