Clio Cup Back On Track In Friday Practice
After the long summer break, the AirAsia Clio Cup finally returned to the track on the 300 layout at Snetterton, the longest lap on the calendar.
The circuit has hosted an official test day for the series back on May 18th, and then it was Westbourne Motorsport’s James Colburn who set the pace. Like then, Colburn went quickest in the morning’s first practice session with a time of 2:09.305secs. As the four way title race begins to enter the home stretch, Colburn set out his stall early on.
“I thought that the session went really well for us today,” he said. “In the first session we were half a second clear and we were feeling pretty confident after going so well here back in May. The second session was very close but I’m satisfied, I know that there is more in the bag looking ahead to qualifying. I will be looking to line up on the front row of the grid for the race.”
The Team Pyro pairing of Adam Bonham and local man Josh Files followed behind in second and third places respectively. Another local man, Croft double race winner Matt Allison was fourth fastest, saying afterwards; “I was pleased with the progress that we made in the first session.”
Jack Goff was fifth for Team Pyro, on old tyres however, leaving much promise going into Saturday’s qualifying and race.
“We were always going to be a bit on the back foot coming here as it’s a new circuit layout and we missed the test here back in May. Before today I think I have managed to do eight laps in a road car, so to be fourth in the first session is not the end of the world. Now it’s time to look at the data and try to find some more time for qualifying tomorrow.”
Double champion Paul Rivett headed up the second session in the afternoon, pipping Colburn late on in the session with a laptime 2:08.890secs.
He said after the session; “I really like the new layout compared to the old version. The fact that there is such a variety of corners will make it brilliant for racing here this weekend. I’m very hopeful that we can perform well in qualifying and put the car on the front row.”
Jack Goff ended the session in third, with Scuderia Vittoria driver Luke Wright finishing in fourth.
“Testing has been very productive for myself and the team today,” said Wright. “We were just getting back into the flow of things today and I am confident that I can take that forward into tomorrow’s qualifying session and would like to achieve a top three placing.”
Friday 5th August morning test times
1. James Colburn Westbourne Motorsport 2.09.305 (G)
2. Adam Bonham Team Pyro 2.09.827 (G)
3. Josh Files Team Pyro 2.09.903 (G)
4. Matt Allison Scuderia Vittoria 2.09.913
5. Jack Goff Team Pyro 2.09.926 (G)
6. James Dixon Total Control Racing 2.10.023 (G)
7. Paul Rivett Lumison BlueSquare Data/Stancombe Vehicle Engineering 2.10.076
8. Luke Wright Scuderia Vittoria 2.10.103 (G)
9. Neb Bursac Team Pyro 2.10.330
10. Aron Smith Team Pyro 2.10.333 (G)
Friday 5th August afternoon test times
1. Paul Rivett Lumison BlueSquare Data/Stancombe Vehicle Engineering 2.08.890
2. James Colburn Westbourne Motorsport 2.09.164
3. Jack Goff Team Pyro 2.09.173
4. Luke Wright Scuderia Vittoria 2.09.211
5. James Dixon Total Control Racing 2.09.341
6. Jake Packun Get On Track Developments 2.09.435
7. Matt Allison Scuderia Vittoria 2.09.438
8. Aron Smith Team Pyro 2.09.522
9. Josh Files Team Pyro 2.09.572
10. Neb Bursac Team Pyro 2.09.794
Photo: Richard Devine
Richard Devine
