Renault UK Clio Cup driver Simon Belcher raced to his eighth Masters Cup podium of the year at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire over the weekend, 22nd/23rd June, to edge 15 points clear in the class standings as the championship heads into a six-week summer break.While the Swindon racers impressive performance in round nine on Saturday afternoon was particularly noteworthy, an excellent drive through into 13th place overall, second in class, from 19th on the grid, the story of the event for Belcher was a tyre gamble in round 10 whichhad it workedwould have easily delivered a career-best result.With heavy rain forecast to hit Croft-on-Tees around the start of Sundays live, televised race, all eyes were on the skies above and as light precipitation began to fall on the formation lap, Belcher opted to pit for treaded Dunlop tyres.Unfortunately for the KRCHER and No Fear Energy-backed driver, the rain ceased soon after and certainly didnt fall in anything like the quantity expected so he ended the encounter a lap down in 18th position overall, fourth in class. Adding insult to injury for the 39-year-old, shortly after the conclusion of round 10 the clouds opened!Im totally happy with the decision we made, no regrets, said Belcher, It was a gamble, a big gamble which could have worked if the rain came as it was forecast to do. We were on the green flag lap, it started raining to the point you needed your wipers on and when I got level with the pit entry, like the words of the song go, it was now or never!So I pitted, we had six or seven guys working on the car to change the wheels to get me out there as quick as possible on wets, and we joined the race about half a lap behind. At that point, it stopped raining. It did start again part way through but, by that time, it was too late for me. The forecast was for it to be raining cats and dogs at four oclock, it didnt happen. You win some, you lose some.Saturdays race was much more fruitful for the Handy Motorsport with Pyro driver who, despite having to start in 19th place and fourth in the Masters class, climbed impressively through the order to keep the defence of his 2012 crown well on course.Holding position early on, the Wiltshire driver moved into third in the Masters, 18th overall, prior to the appearance of the red flags on lap three following a hefty accident for Scuderia Vittorias Devon Modell on the run out of the chicane.When the race was re-started, over a new distance of 10 laps, Belcher moved into 16th position early on and climbed into 15th place on lap four before becoming embroiled in an entertaining and closely fought multi-car battle. Into the hairpin on lap six, he produced an excellent pass to take 14th place from James Nutbrown and then grabbed 13th on lap eightalso ending the race second in class.Race one was really good, to come through form 19th to 13th was great, I was really pleased with it, commented Belcher, The car felt good and the only reason we qualified where we did was because I didnt hook my lap up when I needed to.We were very happy in the first test on Friday, we ended up P12 and were just nine tenths off the pace. We tried something in test two, as you have to really, but it didnt work so we went back to the original settings for qualifying and it would have been good if Id got the lap together. Its been a mixed weekend, but weve increased our lead in the Masters slightly which is what we needed.There is now a lengthy six week break from action for the Renault UK Clio Cup with rounds 11 and 12 of the season taking place at Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk on 3rd/4th August.Provisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Masters Cup Standings (after Rd10):1st Simon Belcher, 251ptsProvisional 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver Standings (after Rd10):17th Simon Belcher, 55pts