Reigning Masters Cup Champion Simon Belcher increased his lead at the top of the class standings to 13 points at Oulton Park Island Circuit over the weekend, 8th/9th June, during a highly competitive fourth race meeting of the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup season.

 Producing two excellent performances, in very hot conditions, the Swindon 39-year-old managed to finish second in the Masters Cup in both rounds seven and eight despite difficulties with the set-up on his 2.0-litre Clio throughout the weekend.

 We struggled really this weekend and it wasnt just me, the whole team seemed to, said the Handy Motorsport with Pyro driver, We were reasonably quick in first practice, we were only nine tenths off the fastest time overall and it all looked good. We went completely the wrong way with the car though in the second test, the set-up wasnt right.

So, we had to sort that for qualifying and in fairness to the guys they did a good job as the car was good I was pretty happy with 15th and 14th overall, we were back within 0.9 seconds of pole so it ticked a lot of boxes for us. Finishing second in the Masters in each race was good, weve increased the lead and thats what we set out to do this weekend.

 Beginning Saturdays seventh round from the eighth row of the grid, second in the Masters Cup, Belcher was bundled back a couple of positions on the opening lap down to third in class but recovered well and climbed back into 14th position and second in the Masters prior to a Safety Car period.

 At the resumption, the KRCHER and No Fear Energy-backed driver piled on the pressure to the cars ahead and on lap nine he moved into 13th place. Running in the middle of a very tightly contested six car battle on the fringe of the top 10, Belcher raced strongly but had to settle for 14th position at the finish and second in the Masters Cup.

 Starting in the same position for Sundays televised race, the Wiltshire driver climbed into the top 12 after a great first lap and although elbowed back to 14th by lap six he maintained second in class despite pressure from Masters Cup rival Finlay Crocker.

 Pulling clear of Crocker following a mid-race Safety Car period, a slight mistake from Belcher at the chicane on lap 13 enabled the Scotsman to close in, but he got a little too close for comfort and tagged the defending class champion into a spin from which he thankfully recovered.

 Crocker, though, crashed out shortly after at Deer Leap which brought out the red flags and an early end to the race. With the result counted-back to the end of lap 12, Belcher was credited with 14th position and second in class to cap a solid weekend.

 I knew Saturdays race would be tough but it went reasonably well, we made up some places, then dropped back, and then made some more up again and ended up in the battle for 10th so it was very encouraging, reflected Belcher, We made some changes for race two but the car was pretty bad, before the Safety Car I had so much understeer I could hardly keep it on the track.

 When the Safety Car was out I tried to cool the tyres down rather than warm them up, it was something we used to do in Legends racing to bring the temperature down. I hoped the car would come back to me and it did, it was better and we opened a gap before the mistake at Knickerbrook which allowed Finlay [Crocker] to close-up. All in all the results arent bad considering the struggles.

 Rounds nine and 10 of the Renault UK Clio Cup season will take place a fortnight from now, over the weekend 22nd/23rd June, at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire.

 Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Masters Cup Standings (after Rd8):1st Simon Belcher, 204pts

 Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd8):=16th Simon Belcher & Josh Wakefield, 43pts