AT THRUXTONJames Dixon edged ever so slightly closer to the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK championship lead at Thruxton in Hampshire on Sunday, 1st May, despite being disappointed with fourth and sixth place finishes in the weekend's two races. Taking a healthy combined points total of 40 away from rounds five and six, the Kent driver now goes into a five-week break in the championship calendar within 21 points of former double Clio Cup champion Paul Rivett at the top of the driver standings. "The weekend was all about qualifying, we didn't get quick enough times and we were on the back foot from there really", reflected James, "We didn't take enough points away this weekend but we have closed ever so slightly on Paul (Rivett) in the championship. I need race wins though to close that gap down significantly - I know we can do that though, we have the pace to do it." Qualifying set the tone for the entire event for James and although within just 0.2 seconds of pole position, the ABP Heating, Weidmuller and The Art of Decorating racer was eighth fastest during Saturday's session - meaning there would be plenty of work to do in the races. During round five on Saturday afternoon, James maintained his top eight position at the beginning and into lap three he started to turn-up the pressure on former British Touring Car Championship racer Matt Allison. Nose-to-tail through Noble, Goodwood, Village and Church, the quickest sequence of corners on the entire Clio Cup calendar, James was in perfect position coming out of the chicane at the end of the lap and, with good drive over the start/finish line, he grabbed seventh place. Immediately thinking about challenging the next car of James Colburn, the complexion of the race changed on lap eight when several front-running cars made contact at Noble. Negotiating his way through the chaos well to grab fourth place, the 21-year-old held the position to the finish which ultimately came down to a two lap sprint at the end following a four-lap Safety Car period. For Sunday's sixth round, rather than lining up in eighth place on the grid James was elevated into sixth position ahead of the start - gaining one place at the expense of the penalised Lee Pattison, due to his involvement in the round five incident, and another due to Luke Wright being unable to take part after damage sustained in the aforementioned tangle. Making the most of the bonus, James got away well at the beginning and threaded his way through the cars ahead brilliantly to move into the top five. An incident at the first corner required another Safety Car period but at the re-start on lap four, he held position well ahead of the chasing pack. Unfortunately at the end of lap six, James glanced the high kerbs at the chicane a little too heavily and the resulting loss of pace on the run into lap seven meant he slipped back. Fighting hard to the finish though on lap 14, he battled back well into the top six and showed his pace with a fastest lap just a 10th of a second shy of the quickest of all.  He reflected: "I am disappointed with the weekend overall, we should have been on the podium again but we didn't get qualifying right. We have to look at the positives though - I am feeling confident for the next event at Oulton Park, the car will be good there and I think we should be able to qualify on the front row and get back to winning ways." There is now a long, five week break in the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK race calendar ahead of rounds seven and eight of the season at Oulton Park's Island Circuit. The event takes place over the weekend 4th/5th June. Provisional 2011 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK Championship Standings (after Rd6): 1st Paul Rivett, 161pts; 2nd James Dixon, 140pts