LLOYD SECURES WINTER CUP TITLE BY NARROWEST OF MARGINS
Total Control Racing's Daniel Lloyd (Huddersfield) secured the 2009
ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup with Michelin title by a margin of just one
point in a thrilling final round at Northamptonshire's Rockingham
Motor Speedway on Saturday, 7th November. The 17-year-old who finished
11th in the 2009 season took two second places over the weekend but it
was the two bonus points awarded for setting the fastest lap of the race
which was key to him finishing one point ahead of team-mate Sam Tordoff
(Leeds).
Despite winning round two, fellow Yorkshireman Tordoff, who also picked
up a third place in the series opener, was unable to match Lloyd's
pace who set a 1m 30.462 (77.20mph average) around the 1.94-mile circuit
-- just outside the 1min 30.128s (Ben Winrow, 2008) lap record.
Westbourne Motorsport's James Colburn (Worthing), who recently
turned 17, also impressed during the weekend mirroring Tordoff's
efforts with a win and a third place. The two finished level on points
(57) but with Tordoff clinching the runners-up spot due to his better
result in the final round.
The weekend also saw three newcomers to the one-make series with Team
Pyro's Luke Caudle (London) together with Stancombe Vehicle
Engineering's Paul Plant (Copthorne, West Sussex) and Matthew
Munson (Burnham).
Final round thriller...
Following the day's earlier qualifying session it was Leeds racer
Tordoff who lined up as pole-sitter although he was unable to take
advantage of his grid position when the lights went out leaving Lloyd to
lead the field into the tight Deene Hairpin. Plant had also been able to
make a great start to move from the back of the grid to fourth by the end
of the first lap.
On lap three of the 12-lap race, second-place Tordoff made a dart up the
inside of Deene for the lead with Lloyd holding the defensive line only
to succumb to Tordoff's pressure through Yentwood.
With Tordoff now leading, Lloyd tried hard to regain his place whilst at
the same time mindful of third place Colburn who had looked quick all
weekend. A few laps later, Lloyd put in a blistering lap to not only
close in on the leader but also to secure what would become the fastest
lap of the race.
Meanwhile just outside the top three, newcomer Plant, fresh from winning
the 2009 Alfa Romeo Championship, was now being reeled in by the more
experienced Darren Wilson (Newark) running with brand new Clio Cup team
20Ten Racing. On the penultimate lap the two ran side-by-side going into
Tarzan with Plant just holding on to his fourth place.
Out in front, 20-year-old Tordoff duly crossed the line to take the win
with Lloyd finishing a mere 0.660s behind and Colburn securing another
podium spot following his maiden win in round one.
Colburn secures maiden victory...
It was tyre choice which ultimately proved decisive in round one with
driver's facing a damp but trying track. Tordoff, on pole, chose to
run on full wets as did team-mate Lloyd who lined up alongside him.
Colburn however, like many in the field, favoured to run with slicks on
the front and wets on the rear.
As the lights went out it was Tordoff who made the better start to lead
followed by Lloyd with Colburn in third. Entering Champman Curve for the
first time, Lloyd made a move on his team-mate to grab the lead and soon
began to edge away. Tordoff however was now coming under increasing
pressure from Colburn with the 17-year-old seizing his chance on the
inside of Deene the following lap. The battle for third was far from over
though as Tordoff retook the place at the same corner a lap later.
The next lap the two were once again side-by-side into Deene with Colburn
again trying a move on Tordoff which saw him make contact with
race-leader Lloyd in the process and dropping the Huddersfield racer down
the field. Tordoff was now able to slip by into the lead followed by
Colburn.
As the track continued to try, Tordoff began to struggle to find grip on
his full wet set-up allowing Colburn to pass him on the inside of Tarzan.
With a clear track and a better tyre selection, Colburn quickly began to
pull away from Tordoff and Lloyd who was now running in third.
Tordoff's fortune didn't improve on lap eight as he ran wide
at Tarzan from a combination of his tyre choice and what later transpired
to be a fuel surge. This allowed Lloyd to move into second and Wilson to
move into third. An ever resilient Tordoff though wasn't about to
give up and managed to retake the final podium spot from the 43-year-old
in the closing stages.
The chequered flag belonged to Colburn though who crossed the line with a
massive 23.353s advantage over Lloyd together with the fastest lap. A
post race investigation by the Clerk of the Course however saw the
Worthing racer handed two penalty points for his contact with Lloyd.
Commenting on his Winter Cup victory Lloyd said: "I knew going into
the final round how many points I needed to win the title and after Sam
got passed me I decided to settle for the place and concentrate on
setting the fastest lap which I got. I've really enjoyed my first
season in Clio racing and this has been a great way to end the year. My
plan is to return to the series in 2010 but that all depends on
sponsorship."
Commenting on his weekend Tordoff said: "Dan and I were having a
great battle in both races and was really pushing me. The tyre choice in
round one proved crucial but I'm really pleased with the win in the
second race."
Round one winner Colburn said: "I'm absolutely delighted with
my first win and certainly hope to be back racing next year with
Westbourne Motorsport."
-credit: rumcc uk
