Simon Belcher moved to within 16 points of the Masters Cup lead during the second event of the Renault UK Clio Cup season at Donington Park National Circuit over the weekend, 20th/21st April, thanks to a pair of class runner-up spots during two highly charged and action-packed races.
Falling victim to contact in each of the encounters at the Leicestershire track, the 39-year-old had to muster all of his resolve and determination to bank as many points as possible but did so with two battling performances.
Qualifying second in class, but just outside the overall top 20, the Swindon racer knew he was in for a tough weekend but managed to overcome some light contact at Redgate on the opening lap of the first race on Saturday afternoon to fight his way through into 16th position, second in the Masters.
Climbing into 18th place overall on lap one, Belcher slipped behind class rival Finlay Crocker on the third tour but instantly set about regaining his position. By lap six, the Handy Motorsport with Pyro driver was not only back into second in class, he had also moved into 16th place where he remained to the finish, despite a significant drop-off in the performance of his tyres towards the end.
Importantly gaining a healthy number of championship points, the reigning Masters Cup Champions race pace was much stronger than in qualifyinghis fastest lap of 1m18.882 seconds was only 0.6 seconds away from the quickest of all.
Starting 21st on the grid was always going to be a little bit interesting, reflected Belcher, Race one wasnt too eventful, although there was some contact at the first corner. Other than that, it was a straightforward race but my tyres went off three laps before the endthe car dropped off a cliff and it was almost un-driveable to be honest.
For Sundays fourth round, the KRCHER and No Fear Energy-supported racer was again on row 11 of the grid and made a decent getaway. On the run along the Dunlop Straight though near the end of lap one, contact to the rear of his striking black and yellow Clio threatened to wreck his weekend.
Pitched onto the grass at 120mph, Belcher skillfully recovered onto the track and although down to 23rd overall and fourth in the Masters he mounted a superb recovery drive. By lap four the Wiltshire racer was into 18th and second in class and after a tight battle later on with Crocker and Tautvydas Barstys, he managed to usurp the pair to take second in the Masters Cup and 17th overall.
The second race was full of action, well, thats the polite way of putting it!, he said, On the first lap, going down the back straight, I was hit in my rear corner and was turned around at 120mph. At that point I thought we were on for a big accident and another re-shell of the car but I managed to get it pointing in the right direction and back on the track.
Then [Finlay] Crocker had a go at me, shoved it down the inside at the first corner and was never going to stop the car in a month of Sundays. I just had to turn left to get out of the way, he went off but came back on and went into me. It was a whole race full of action but we came through it.
He added: Were not repeating the pace we had in testing, all through the winter I was very close to Josh Files [series front-runner], within four or five tenths, but this weekend we were more like a second off him so were definitely missing something. Weve really got to have a good look at the car between now and Thruxton, work out what the issue is and get back to where we should be.
Rounds five and six of the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup will take place at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire just a fortnight from now, over the weekend 4th/5th May. Before then, the championship competitors will convene at Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk for an officially timed test on Wednesday, 24th April.
Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd4):=20th Simon Belcher & Finlay Crocker, 13pts
Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Masters Cup Standings (after Rd4):3rd Simon Belcher, 84pts
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