More Podium Success In Clio and Ginetta For TCR
Total Control Racing continued its run of podium success in both the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK and Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Sunday, 5th June, with James Dixon and Carl Breeze both adding more silverware to the team trophy cabinet.In Clio Cup, Dixon is now heading the championship - albeit tied on points with erstwhile leader Paul Rivett - after his fifth podium of the season during a rain-affected round eight in which he finished third on his first ever competitive wet-weather outing at the 2.2-mile track.Starting on pole position, Dixon led away at the beginning but at Old Hall on lap two Jack Goff sliced up the inside forcing the TCR man wide onto the grass. Defending second place well, Dixon slipped to third at the same corner on lap nine but maintained the final podium place to move atop the championship standings for the first time since the opening round of the year.Team-mate Tom Grice easily had the pace to challenge for a podium himself but slight contact at the hairpin on lap two relegated him to the tail of the field, wrecking his chances. Fighting back from almost stone last, the first year rookie carved his way up the order to ninth at the finish to at least salvage some decent points to maintain a top six championship position.Lighting up the timing screens lap after lap with tremendous pace, Grice posted a series of fastest times as he worked his way back up the order and on the 12th tour he set the best lap of the race with a time of 1m44.817 seconds (76.45mph) - the only driver in the 1m44 second bracket and a full 0.4 seconds better than anyone else could manage.Mark Proctor capped off his best weekend yet since moving into Clios at the start of the year by just missing out on the top 10, the former British Touring Car Championship competitor ending the race a mere 0.6 seconds shy of the coveted spot.Nicolas Hamilton, meanwhile, wasn't able to rack up yet more points and unfortunately posted the first non-finish of his maiden season in racing after contact on lap four led to an excursion and irreparable damage to his Clio."I feel we had the pace for two wins this weekend in Clios but the weather conditions changed that", commented team principal Lee Brookes, "Having said that, we're delighted with a win and third place for James which puts him at the top of the championship."It was an unlucky race for Tom, he was just pushed off at the hairpin but he proved his pace by being nearly half a second quicker than anybody. Obviously we're disappointed for Nic too, he just got caught up in some contact, but Mark did well this weekend which we're really pleased with."Breeze continues to close on Ginetta points lead...Round 11 of the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup delivered yet another podium finish for TCR's Carl Breeze, the championship contender closing to within just 25 points of the series lead as the title battle really begins to heat-up.Starting the race second on the grid, by virtue of his finishing position in Saturday's 10th round, Breeze tried his best to hold his placing into Old Hall at the beginning but slipped to third behind Stefan Hodgetts.Intermittent rain made the conditions very tricky for the drivers, who were all on slick tyres, but Breeze made no mistakes and held on to his top three position to the finish on lap 15. His best lap of the race, 1m28.238 seconds, was only a 10th of a second shy of the quickest of all."Carl has pulled back more points this weekend with another couple of podiums so he's looking stronger and stronger", said Brookes, "Obviously we'd have liked a win but we're happy with the results this weekend."Unfortunately for TCR, Breeze's car was the sole entry for the team in Ginetta GT Supercup at Oulton Park on Sunday after Joachim Ritter opted to call time on his involvement in the championship prior to the second of the weekend's races. The Ginetta mainstay, who resides in Switzerland, has taken the decision based on a combination of business and family commitments but hasn't ruled out a return with the team in the near future.TCR's next track action will come just two weeks from now, 18th/19th June, at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire for rounds nine and 10 of the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK and rounds 12, 13 and 14 or the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup.Provisional 2011 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK Driver Standings (after Rd8):1st James Dixon, 197pts; 6th Tom Grice, 122pts; 16th Nicolas Hamilton, 51pts; 17th Mark Proctor, 29ptsProvisional 2011 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup Driver Standings (after Rd11):2nd Carl Breeze, 289pts; 7th Joachim Ritter, 124pts