Total Control victorious in Clio Cup Race Series and Ginetta GT5 Challenge

Total Control Racing enjoyed incredibly successful outings at Snetterton 300 Circuit and Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend, 30th/31st August, with race victories in both the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge.At Snetterton in Norfolk, Mike Robinson increased his lead at the top of the Clio Cup Race Series standings to 52 points with just two races remaining and completed another outstanding double win in rounds nine and 10. Taking his tally of victories for the year to seven, Robinson has also placed on the podium in every race he has finished – nine of the 10 contested thus far.In the Ginetta Challenge at Brands Hatch in Kent, points leader George Gamble secured two wins from three outings to boost his advantage at the top of the championship to 57 points with three races to go. Team-mate Callum Pointon starred with his maiden podium in race one of the weekend and capped off his best race meeting yet in cars with a second rostrum visit during race three.Unfortunately for Robinson’s Michelin Clio Cup Race Series team-mate Andy Jordan, the Snetterton weekend only delivered a best finish of eighth position in race two. In race one, a highly unfortunate tangle on the formation lap resulted in significant damage and a non-start.“We’re in a good position going to Croft with Mike in the Clios, it’s what we wanted another two wins”, said TCR team principal Lee Brookes, “He’s done a superb job all year and this weekend he had to really work hard under a lot of pressure, he really deserved those two wins.“We think there’s a problem with the shell on Andy’s Clio, since he re-shelled it there’s something not quite right. On the data everything’s good with his driving, so we think another shell will sort that out and he’ll be back where he should be at the final round.”Brookes added: “George and Callum both had a great weekend down at Brands Hatch as well, George has kept his lead strong in the championship with another couple of wins and we’re over the moon for Callum to have taken his first podium as that’s been building up for a while. All in all, it’s been a great weekend in the Clios and the Ginettas so we’re very happy.”Qualifying on pole position for both Snetterton races in the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series, Robinson soaked up immense pressure in the opening contest on Saturday afternoon which was screened live on Motors TV. Under constant threat for the 10 lap duration, he never put a wheel wrong and remained calm and composed to take one of the finest victories of his career.In round 10 on Sunday, Robinson again led away from pole and made a great re-start after an early Safety Car period to control proceedings throughout. He was reeled in by Ant Whorton-Eales late on, but a puncture for the latter dropped him out of contention.Jordan, aiming to make amends for the race one misfortune, posted an eighth place finish after a good recovery drive. Starting in seventh position, he was bundled back to 11th place prior to the Safety Car but fought back strongly to finish in the top eight just 0.7 seconds behind the car ahead.In the Ginetta Challenge, championship leader Gamble started as he meant to go on by claiming pole position in qualifying but after being adjudged to have jumped the start of race one, round 16, along with fellow front-row starter Dennis Strandberg, Gamble was hit with a 10 second time penalty.Pointon, who had qualified an impressive fifth, made a terrific getaway and put together a superb opening lap to climb into third and with the penalties for the two leaders he was effectively in the lead of the race.On lap three, Gamble was outside the top 10 on the corrected timesheets but he fought his way back tremendously and set the fastest lap on the final tour, the only driver to dip below the 1m41 second barrier with a time of 1m40.962 seconds, to finish in fourth place.Pointon, meanwhile, delivered his best race yet in the Ginetta Challenge and although slipping back from the corrected lead to third by lap seven, he went on to secure his first podium with a fantastic third place finish – only 0.8 seconds shy of Gary Simms at the flag.In round 17 on Sunday, Gamble led throughout with a superb performance to take a memorable victory and boost his points lead. Pointon, meanwhile, was third on the opening lap but slipped to fourth behind Strandberg and remained there to the finish.Gamble ended the weekend with his fifth win of the campaign, a different style of race to the previous encounter with Strandberg elbowing the TCR man back to second place on lap four from the lead after a Safety Car period. On lap eight, Gamble moved back into the lead and went on to seal another terrific success.Pointon brilliantly ran in third place until the eighth tour when, like Gamble, he benefited from a slip back for Strandberg. Moving up into second place, a career-best result looked on the cards but he was pipped for the place by Ollie Chadwick on the final lap – third still a superb result.Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit will host the final three rounds of the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge over the weekend 13th/14th September while the last two races of Michelin Clio Cup Race Series campaign will take place a week later, 20th/21st September, at Croft in North Yorkshire.Provisional 2014 Michelin Clio Cup Race Series Driver Standings (after Rd10):1st Mike Robinson, 282pts; 10th Andy Jordan, 105ptsProvisional 2014 Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge Driver Standings (after Rd18):1st George Gamble, 497pts; 5th Callum Pointon, 288pts


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