UK: Daniel Lloyd Thruxton race two report

THIRD TOP 10 OF YEAR FOR CLIO CUP STAR LLOYD AT THRUXTON

West Yorkshire based ELF Renault Clio Cup rookie Daniel Lloyd capped off an impressive weekend during round four of the season at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire today, Sunday, 26th April, by claiming his third top 10 finish of the year.

Thoroughly enjoying the fast-paced action at the country's quickest track, the Team Pyro star fought tooth and nail with some highly experienced saloon car campaigners, including championship regulars Carl Bradley and Alex MacDowall, to emerge with a well deserved 10th place finish, cementing his growing reputation as one of the most promising newcomers in the category.

Ninth in the driver standings after four of the 2009 season's scheduled 20 rounds, 17-year-old Daniel was in great form during this afternoon's 12 lap encounter -- which was broadcast live to the nation on ITV4 -- to maintain his impressive start to his debut year in Clios.

Getting away fairly well initially at the beginning of the race from 13th on the grid, the Scammonden racer darted from his slot on the right hand side of the grid to the outside on the run into Allard Corner for the first time as he tried to find as much space as possible.

Moving into 12th position on lap one, he unfortunately slipped back to 13th place behind Carl Bradley on the second tour but made his way back into the top 12 on lap seven. Passing Alex Osborne for 11th on lap nine, Daniel was determined to grab his third back-to-back top 10 finish of the season and did so after carving his way by Bradley on the final lap with a superb piece of driving.

"It's great to have finished in the top 10 again, it was a good race and it was important for us to score consistently to maintain our place in the championship top 10", said Daniel, "I didn't get away from the grid too badly this afternoon but it all got a bit tight during the first couple of laps and so I couldn't make up as many places as I had hoped. In the end it didn't work out too badly though."

With four solid results from the opening quartet of races, Daniel is just four points shy of eighth placed Mike Robinson in the championship standings who, in turn, is 20 points shy of the coveted top six.

Daniel's next track outing will come during official ELF Renault Clio Cup testing at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on Thursday, 7th May. Rounds five and six of the 2009 season are then scheduled to follow just over a week later, 16th/17th May, at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire.

Meanwhile, action from the opening two races of the 2009 season will be featured as part of the Motorsport UK programme on ITV1 this Thursday night, 30th April, at 00.20. Check listings for further details regarding replays on ITV4 and Men & Motors.

-credit: daniellloydracing.com