Jake Giddings heads morning timesheets for FML during one-off Clio returnRenault UK Clio Cup rookie Paul Streather confirms front-running race paceWisbech team sets stall out as genuine contenders for 2016 silverware
Leading Renault UK Clio Cup team Finesse Motorsport heads into the opening race meeting of the 2016 season, little over a week from now, brimming with confidence after a superb showing at Rockingham in Northamptonshire during official pre-season testing.
On track for the annual ‘Media Day’, the pre-cursor to the championship curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch on 2nd/3rd April, Wisbech-based Finesse certainly made heads turn with a timesheet-topping performance from Jake Giddings in the morning and consistently strong pace from Paul Streather.
British GT Championship racer Giddings, making a one-off return to Renault Clios for his father Neil’s team for the test, was on the pace from the outset and after ending the first session a mere 0.044 seconds shy of the top of the times he punched in the fastest lap of the morning in session two.
Circulating in 1m29.855 seconds (77.72mph), Giddings’ time wasn’t bettered until the afternoon when a number of rivals opted to use new tyres. Even then, his best effort of the day was just a tiny 0.060 seconds shy.
“It was good fun being back in a Clio and having a bit of a play”, said Giddings, “The car was faultless all day, it only took a little bit of adjustment with the brakes and the power to adapt back from the GT car. It was good to be quickest in the morning and it was only when people used more and more new tyres we got knocked down, so we were pretty happy with everything really.”
Championship rookie Streather, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, concentrated purely on race pace throughout the day’s six track sessions and, unlike almost all of his front-running rivals, opted to utilise older rubber in the main.
Ending session one an excellent fourth fastest, Streather – who is backed by Michael Smith Switchgear and AVW Fabrications – remained in the top four during the second run and ultimately concluded the morning fourth on the times thanks to a lap of 1m30.387 seconds (77.26mph).
During the afternoon, he remained comfortably inside the top 10 and while preferring to remain cautious with regard to any predictions for the opening race meeting of the season at Brands Hatch just over a week from now, Streather was more than happy with his day’s work.
“I’m very happy with how the test went, especially considering how little time I’ve had in the car compared to the others – we only had one shakedown before this”, he commented, “The car was really good, we’ve got it set for race pace so we’re very happy with the times we did, especially on old rubber.
“Jake and I were both generally around the top until others started throwing new tyres at it, so we’re pleased with how everything went. I want to get the first race weekend out of the way and under my belt to see where we are, but the team is doing a brilliant job and I’m very thankful for everything they’ve done.”
All attention now turns to the first two rounds of the Renault UK Clio Cup season at Brands Hatch on 2nd/3rd April. Following pre-event testing on Friday, 1st April, qualifying will take place on Saturday, 2nd April, at 12.05 with the opening race of the season beginning at 16.25.
On Sunday, 3rd April, round two will start at 13.25 and will be screened live on ITV4 and streamed online at www.itv.com/btcc Full times
