Pearson gets eighth top ten finish at Silverstone

Eighth Top 10 Finish Of Year For Rick Pearson

Mark Fish Motorsport's Clio Cup front-runner, Rick Pearson claimed his eighth top ten finish of the season in the final round at Silverstone last weekend.

QUALIFYING: 2nd, 1:35.472 s

Following a productive days testing at the famous Northamptonshire venue in the week leading up to the final round of the championship, the Rick Pearson, ActiveShop Clio proved to be one of the series' pace setters during official qualifying. Pearson's fastest lap of 1:35.472s secured second on the grid, behind Jim Edwards Junior's benchmark time of 1:35.386s.

RACE: 5th, 16:24.627

From second on the grid, Pearson was demoted to fourth when round twelve got underway at 8.00pm. While the majority of the field re-acquainted themselves with racing in the dark, the second and third placed contenders ran wide at Abbey mid-way through the inaugural tour, thus enabling Pearson to challenge for fourth place in the ensuing confusion.

Contact with Henry Taylor thereafter accounted for Pearson's wing mirror and resulted in a trip across the gravel trap for both cars. As a result of the excursion, Fulham-based Pearson was also demoted by a three car pack battling for fifth place honours.

Pearson quickly made up two places at the Complex on lap two when Taylor and Jim Edwards Snr ran wide while battling for fifth. He then spent the remainder of the ten lap race embroiled in a titanic scrap with Taylor. The place was secured on lap eight with a strong exit from the chicane, while Taylor was left to defend his sixth place from a twin David Gibson/Peter Sowerby attack.

Pearson's fifth position consolidated fifth overall in the driver standings, behind race winner, Mat Jackson. The result also added to Pearson's tally of eight top ten finishes, cementing his reputation as one of the championships most consistent front-runners.