race win and a second place apiece for Lee Pattison (Halifax) and Mike Bushell (Tunbridge Wells) in the Renault UK Clio Cup’s first races of 2017 at Brands Hatch means they are tying for the championship lead heading to the next rounds at Leicestershire’s Donington Park circuit in a fortnight’s time (Sat 15/Sun 16 April).
In wet conditions Pattison won Saturday’s opening round for local team WDE Motorsport ahead of Team Pyro’s Bushell who had started from pole position after setting a new qualifying lap record.
WDE’s Paul Rivett (Epsom Downs) was third as two of the championship’s exciting newcomers, 17-year-old James Dorlin (Barnsley) driving for Westbourne Motorsport and Pyro’s 16-year-old Jack McCarthy (Bromley), took fourth and fifth positions. Dorlin had come through from 16th on the grid and actually made up ten places on the opening lap…
On Sunday, though, Bushell led all the way to win for the first time at his home circuit after again starting from pole position. McCarthy pressured him for much of the race – shown live on ITV4 – but later slipped to fourth when passed by Pattison and Rivett.
Further back in ninth Shayne Deegan (Cambridge) set a new lap record in his small SDR Motorsport team’s car – the Michelin tyres the UK Clio Cup has switched to for 2017 resulting an immediate increase in speeds for the championship.
It all means that leaving Brands Hatch it’s a tie at the top with Pattison and Bushell equal on points at the head of the outright leaderboard. Rivett is third with McCarthy an astonishing fourth. He also leads Dorlin (a frustrated 16th in Sunday’s race) in the Graduates Cup for young, first-year drivers. Similarly Pattison leads Rivett in the Masters Cup class for older drivers. WDE Motorsport has raced into a sizeable early lead in the Teams Championship ahead of Pyro.
Pattison commented: “It’s a great start to my season although I was fortunate to hold onto quite a hairy moment on the first lap of today’s (Sunday) race. Hopefully we can keep up this momentum now – I left Brands Hatch last year leading the points but then it all went downhill from there!”
Bushell said: “I’m very pleased with my weekend – qualifying, race pace… we’ve been strong in every department and it’s a much better start than 12 months ago. Breaking my duck finally at Brands Hatch also means a lot.”
And added three-time Champion Rivett: “Of course two third places aren’t as good as two wins! But seeing WDE succeed is just as important to me. I’m coming away very much in the title hunt and WDE are in such a great place at the moment.”
McCarthy reflected: “Fifth yesterday, fourth today… I can’t complain too much considering they are my first ever car races. I was going for the lead today but when Mike defended it cost me a bit of momentum and allowed the others to get alongside me. It won’t happen again.”
LEADING CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
Drivers Championship: =1 Lee Pattison & Mike Bushell, 60 points; 3 Paul Rivett, 50; 4 Jack McCarthy, 42; 5 Max Coates, 36; =6 Dan Zelos & Ollie Pidgely, 30 etc.
Graduates Cup: 1 Jack McCarthy, 60; 2 James Dorlin, 54; 3 Shayne Deegan, 50 etc.
Masters Cup: 1 Lee Pattison, 64; 2 Paul Rivett, 56; 3 Oscar Rovelli, 50 etc.
Teams Championship: 1 WDE Motorsport, 140; 2 Team Pyro, 102; 3 Westbourne Motorsport, 62 etc.
