UK: Series Silverstone summary

RIVETT RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS AT SILVERSTONE

Double Clio Cup champion Paul Rivett (Banstead) returned to his winning ways during rounds 13 and 14 of the ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin series at Silverstone National circuit on 21st/22nd August to give BlueSquare Data/Stancombe Vehicle Engineering their first victory of the season.

The 31-year-old 2002 and 2004 champion secured the honours in Saturday's round 13 followed by an equally impressive performance during Sunday's round 14, broadcast live on ITV4, with second place. The ever dominate Dave Newsham (Inverness), driving for Team Pyro, once again was impeccable with a second place together with a lights-to-flag win and becoming the first pole-sitter at the 1.64-mile circuit to win a race since 2006. A 62-point haul for Newsham now means the 43-year-old could theoretically secure the championship title at his home circuit of Knockhill in two weeks time.

The remainder of the podium spots were picked up by Total Control Racing's Mike Robinson (Surbiton) with third in the weekend's first race while Westbourne Motorsport's James Colburn (Worthing) took the final podium spot in round 14. Newsham and Colburn took the NGK Masters Cup and Graduate Cup class wins respectively.

Despite a frustrating weekend for Total Control Racing's Sam Tordoff (Leeds), the 21-year took much delight in being named as a BRDC Rising Star.

Newsham made to work for 10th win...

This time last year a determined Dave Newsham secured his first Clio Cup win on the National circuit, overtaking Phil Glew in the process. One year on, the runaway championship leader secured his 11th and 12th pole positions of the year during Saturday's qualifying session to once again look favourite for the top step of the podium.

With Newsham on pole for round 14, his most likely challenger looked like lap record holder Robinson who lined up alongside him on the front row. Rivett and Colburn took their places on row two with front-runner Tordoff struggling down in ninth place.

As the lights went out for the start of the 18-lap race, Newsham got away cleanly but not as well as Rivett who was immediately alongside him into the run into the right-handed Copse demoting Robinson down the order. With pole position swapped to the outside this year it meant Newsham was unable to get a clean getaway leaving the two running side-by-side for almost half a lap. The former Legends racer did eventually edge in front with Rivett resigned to rubbing his rear bumper as they crossed the line for the first time.

The front-two were followed by Colburn and Robinson and JHR Developments' Lee Pattison, a former winner on this track in 2008, in fifth.

Places were also swapping in the midfield with TCR's James Dixon (Maidstone) getting the better of Team Pyro's Jack Goff (High Wycombe) for sixth place and Pyro team-mate Jeff Smith (Wellingborough) briefly getting ahead of Tordoff. Westbourne Motorsport duo Patrick Collins (Spaldwick) and Josh Cook (Bath) were also swapping places just inside the top 10, a battle which continued several laps later. Soon after Goff and Dixon were running nose-to-tail through Becketts as Goff tried hard to regain the place but Dixon had closed the door.

A spin by Smith a few laps later allowed Tordoff to make ground before passing Goff on the inside of Brooklands. The same corner once again proved successful for Tordoff as he gained another place from team-mate Dixon to now lie in sixth.

Meanwhile at the front, Newsham had begun to edge away but a series of quick laps from Rivett, including the NGK fastest lap of the race, soon had the race leader's attention. Every lap that ticked by saw Rivett draw ever closer to the back of Newsham's Clio and pretty soon the two were swapping body paint with one another.

Rivett continued to follow Newsham around the dry track like glue giving crowds a great spectacle between the former and potential champions. Newsham had to use all his experience gained so far to keep Rivett at bay as the chequered flag came out for easily his best win to date, along with the NGK Masters Cup honours. Colburn -- who was awarded the ELF/Atol Driver of the Meeting -- crossed the line in third place along with the Graduate Cup win with Pattison in fourth after getting the better of Robinson a few laps before the end.

Rivett return secures win for Stancombe...

With Newsham starting in pole for Saturday's round 13 and Rivett rounding off the front row, pre-race expectations were met as both drivers headed down to Copse corner for the first time. Rivett just came out of the right-hander better off and after losing one place, Newsham soon found himself under pressure going into Maggots, before losing a second to Robinson.

Robinson soon began to put pressure on race leader Rivett and on lap three, he tried to get a run on Paul coming out of Woodcote only for his efforts to prove unsuccessful.

After showing real intention in the first five laps, Robinson soon came under increasing pressure from a charging Newsham. Heading into Brooklands on lap seven, Newsham managed to make a successful lunge up the inside on the TCR driver to regain second place.

The racing was proving to be just as fierce in the middle of the pack, with the Clio drivers showing spectators that the championship continues to provide bumper-to-bumper action throughout. Collins in particular had made a real surge from 13th on the grid to eventually finish eighth and equalling his previous best from Croft.

Having a very quiet race for his standards was TCR's championship contender Tordoff. After starting the race in ninth on the grid, the grandson of rally driver Jack Tordoff could only manage a disappointing seventh place.

At the front there was no change in the order but Rivett was coming under increasing pressure from Newsham and on lap 14 the two were inseparable over the start/finish line. Newsham just couldn't find a way past though and as the laps ticked by not even the NGK fastest lap of the race could help Newsham find a way past. Rivett therefore crossed the line for his first win since returning to the series and only the fourth different winner of 2010. Newsham took second, along with the NGK Masters Cup honours, with Robinson in third and Pattison in fourth. Colburn collected fifth spot and the Graduate Cup class win.

Commenting on his weekend Rivett said: "It's been a brilliant weekend for BlueSquare Data and for Stancombe Vehicle Engineering and it's great to be back at the top. I got a great start in round 13 and with the inside line at Copse managed to get in front of Dave and secure the win which is as much a win for Matthew [Munson] as it is for me. Dave drove faultlessly in round 14 and maybe I could have got past him given a few more laps but he's a very good driver and full credit to him."

Double podium finisher Newsham said: "Pole has definitely been in the wrong place this weekend and I almost wish I qualified second. Paul got two great starts in both rounds and in the first race I nearly caught him but then he is a double champion and passing him was never going to be easy. Round 14 was another great battle for us and I had to soak up a lot of pressure from Paul but it's possibly my best win of the year."

Robinson, who finished third in round 13, said: "It's great to be back on the podium and overall it's been a strong weekend for us. I'm a fan of this circuit but then it's never easy to overtake."

Third-place in round 14 Colburn added: "It's been a great weekend for us and we've had good pace with the car. I just hope we can secure a few more podiums before the end of the season."

Rounds 15 and 16 of the ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin take place at Scotland's Knockhill circuit on 4th/5th September.

-source: renault sport uk