RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

Accomplished rally driver Adam Gould made an eventful switch from rally to race last weekend in the opening round of the Air Asia Clio Cup at Brands Hatch. The 24 year old experienced both the great and dark sides of racing after switching from the forest stages of the MSA British Rally Championship.

Aboard his Stancombe Engineering prepared Clio Adam kicked off his race debut weekend in fine style – with 12th in Race 1. Gould could not repeat such results in Race 2 however, after first lap carnage forced the Bristol man into retirement.

Gould’s presence on the Clio grid comes after a cut short 2011 rally season. Lack in sponsorship sidelined Adam after 4 rounds of BRC, in which 2 podiums were scored. Rally was no longer an option for Adam when plans for this season were made.

Adam explained: “Due to the British Rally Championship changing its rules to 2WD my 4WD Subaru would be unable to compete. With limited sponsors this switch to Clio’s was logical, but I am not dismissing rally, just with such difficulties in gaining sponsorship and an outlawed car it was impossible to continue.”

As testing for 2012 began Gould was still finalising plans, allowing Adam only two test sessions before Saturday’s Brands Hatch season opener. Having multiple champion Paul Rivett as teammate has helped Adam dearly: “The Stancombe team has helped my transition with very limited testing as this was a very late deal. Paul as my teammate is valuable as I am learning from his experience and advice.”

The teams support put Gould immediately on the pace, qualifying 16th of 25 starters. Adam used his extensive rally skills to duck and dive through the packed Clio field in Race 1. Following in Rivett’s tyre tracks Adam defeated much more experienced drivers, coming home an impressive 12th on his race debut.

Pic: Joseph Wright

All of Paul’s advice and support could not help Gould in Race 2, as typical Clio madness ended a helpless Adam’s race. Post race Adam commented: “Having a big entry is great, but qualifying 17th put me in the mid pack mayhem.”

As Gould powered the Motor Mate Clio down Cooper Straight a multi car pileup left Adam with no way to turn. Gould’s wealth of rally experience could not stop his demise: “There was nothing I could do, the car is basically written off and I’m not sure we’ll be at the next round now.”

With scrapped panels and a bent chassis it will take all the Stancombe teams experience to see Adam out at Donington. Gould will certainly not give up, hoping to return very soon and pursue his racing aim.

“BTCC is now the target, with the Clio’s running on the back of the Touring Cars it is the perfect feeder series.” If Gould’s rapid times continue – he was only 0.656 off pole – don’t be surprised to see him on the BTCC grid in the very near future.

Report: Daniel Wright

Pictures: Nick Dungan / Sportstock except where indicated

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography

Laura Tillett has turned her attentions towards securing a drive in the 2012 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK after her maiden test at a wet Brands Hatch in Kent on Tuesday, 24 January – the rising star made an encouraging and impressive debut at the wheel of the Total Control Racing car.

The multiple title winners ran Nicolas Hamilton – younger brother of 2008 FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis – in 2011 and former Karter Tillett adapted herself well to the 2.0-litre race car.

Tillett was faced with less than ideal track conditions for her debut in the Clio – a very slippery track surface and persistent rain meant that the West Malling youngster was faced with a trickier debut than she had hoped, but she made strong progress as the day progressed and her nine years in Karting helped her to adapt to the different demands of the Clio Cup race car – she was soon proving why she is one of the most highly rated female racers in the UK.

“I really, really enjoyed the test and I felt very confident by the end of the day, even with the weather against me, so it couldn’t have been much better”, said the Kent racer, “Having never been in a saloon car before, I didn’t know what to expect but it was fantastic. The team is really lovely; they gave me a lot of help during the day and gave me some great advice.

“The test has definitely swayed me into looking at a future in saloons; I know I’d be comfortable racing in something like Clios. I always thought single-seaters would be the way to go after karting but the Clio is so much fun to drive. Hopefully we’ll be able to arrange another test soon with TCR.”

Total Control Racing team Principal Lee Brookes – a former Clio Cup Champion from the mid nineties as well as a Privateer Cup winner from the British Touring Car Championship – was impressed with Tilletts maiden test, considering the poor weather at the Kent circuit.

“Laura adapted to the Clio really well and for her first ever time in one of these cars, we were very encouraged”, Brookes commented, “It’s difficult to come in from karts, put aside some of the things that come naturally there and learn the different things you need to try and get the most from a car like a Clio. The conditions were terrible but she did a great job, we’d love to run Laura this year.”

For Tillett to make the move into the BTCC Supporting Clio Cup, she needs to attract sufficient sponsorship and commercial backing – as a record breaker by being the first British female Karter to compete in the top class of the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship, her ability and potential is unquestionable, as is her marketability.

There are now just over two months to the start of the 2012 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK, with rounds one and two of the sixteen round campaign taking place at Brands Hatch, Kent over the 31 March/1 April.

The 2012 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup will once again enjoy prime live television coverage as part of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship package, as well as excellent track side attendances.

Photo by Chris Walker/www.kartpix.net

Total Control Racing will begin their 2012 testing campaign at Brands Hatch in Kent tomorrow, with one of the team’s cars being tested by twenty year old karter Laura Tillett, who will be making her saloon car track debut.

Tillett, who is from West Malling, ten miles from the circuit, has spent the last nine years competing in karting and she entered the record books in 2009 as she became the first female karter in the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship.

She started her Karting career in 2005, firstly racing in the Super 1 British Formula JICA category (known as KF3 now) before moving into Formula ICA, where she remained until 2008, when the KF2 class was introduced.

Having taken fifth in the MSA Kartmasters Grand Prix, she moved into the European and World kart scene – this is where she made history by becoming the first British female to compete at the top level of Karting – in the World Championship.

She then had a successful run in the Super KF class of the European and World Series in 2010, and she finished eleventh overall in the WSK European Championships.

Her final season in Karting saw her compete against the best in the business in the CIK – FIA World Championship, as well as competing in the KF1 class of the WSK Euro Series.

All of her Karting experience has been coupled with experience of testing single seat race cars – having tested Formula Ford and Formula BMW, and she was lucky enough to enjoy a day at the Williams F1 Team in November, using their race simulator.

No decisions have been made about her plans for 2012, as he turns her attentions to car racing – he has previously tested Formula Ford and Formula BMW cars – and her test tomorrow could open the door to a saloon car racing future.

“This will be my first ever go in a Clio, so I’m really looking forward to it”, said Laura, “I’ve still got a desire to race single-seaters but we need to look at all of the options as it’s all down to sponsors. I’ve been karting for nine years so I can tell you everything about that. Being 20, I’m slightly behind some of the others who have moved up to cars already so this is something I definitely need to do now.”

Tillett could become the first female entrant in the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UIK since 2007, when Mel Healey competed in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support series.

Looking ahead to the test at Brands Hatch, Lee Brookes, Team Principal of Wednesbury based TCR said:  “We’re delighted to be able to give Laura her first test in a Clio, she’s proven her talent in karts for a number of years now at the top level so we’ve got no doubts she’ll be able to adapt quickly. We’re really looking forward to working with her.”

Nicolas Hamilton’s preparations for his Oulton Park Renault Clio Cup debut on 4/5 June included a trackday at the Cheshire circuit yesterday (26 May), as he puts a recent major Thruxton testing crash behind him.

Nicolas, the brother of 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, entered his debut season in motor racing with the British Touring Car Championship-supporting Renault Clio Cup earlier this year. With little testing compared to the rest of the field and a specially adapted car, he has shown great promise in the first six rounds of the season. Nicolas, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, showed the sort of grit that his sibling is famous for at the previous championship round at Thruxton, when he bounced back from the shunt to record his first top ten finish in the series.

With his original Clio written off in the crash at the Hampshire circuit, Nicolas used a back-up car for the races, before taking it to Snetterton for an official test last week.

Now Nicolas has a brand new car for the Oulton Park rounds but as with all of the races this year, he had no prior experience of the circuit. Until yesterday, that is; “I’ve never driven around Oulton Park before,” Nicolas said, “and the last time I visited was in 2003 when I watched Lewis racing there in the Formula Renault championship. It’s a beautiful circuit, very demanding and technical, an excellent place to learn braking points, turning in and putting the power down. I’m looking forward to racing at Oulton and learning a great deal from the trackday.”

With almost a third of the races completed, Nicolas reflected on his progress so far: “I think that overall my season’s going well. I wasn’t able to test before the start of the year as it took a long time to get my license as the MSA needed to ensure they were happy with me being in a racing car because of my Cerebral Palsy.

“The racing has been as hard if not harder than I expected, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy. If anything I thought I’d be further off the pace given my lack of experience – this is the first time I’ve contested any racing series, and I’m driving these tracks for the first time. It’s a very steep learning curve and my mountain is pretty steep to climb. I’m not a million miles off, which is a big positive. “

With the Oulton Park round falling between the Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix, there’s every chance that Lewis could return the favour by joining an ever-growing crowd of fans for this determined of racers.

Nicholas Hamilton, the younger brother of 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Champion Lewis will make his racing debut in the BTCC supporting Elf Renault Clio Cup in 2011.

Nicholas has joined multiple champions Total Control Racing having gained the necessary National B Racing licence and has tested a 2010 spec Clio.

Nineteen year old Hamilton, who has cerebral palsy has been described by his older brother Lewis as his biggest inspiration.

“I have loved motor sport from a young age and watching my brother achieve so much has given me inspiration to make my own racing debut,” said Nicolas to the official British Touring Car Championship website, BTCC.net.  “I know this will not be an easy task, but I hope that my doing this will give inspiration to others who have challenges in their life. I can’t wait to be racing.”

Hamilton’s Clio Cup deal was brokered by father Anthony who added:  “Nicolas has followed his brother’s career from an early age and it was natural that he would want to get behind the wheel competitively himself. The Renault Clio Cup offers a tremendous platform for him, with great television coverage and exposure and I’m sure it will be highly enjoyable too.”

Lee Brookes, TCR Team Principal added:  “Nicolas has superb passion for motor racing and great support behind him so it is a great honour for Total Control Racing that he will be racing with us.”

Nicholas is also a familiar with the BTCC and TOCA package, having watched Lewis race in Formula Renault UK in 2002 and 2003, the season he claimed the title with Manor Motorsport.

Renault Sport Technologies today announced the Stephane Ratel Organisation (SRO) will take over as Promoter of the Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship and the Clio Cup UK series from on 1 January, 2011.

“Renault Sport Technologies has certainly appreciated the work and the commitment over the years of its Promoter, Grovewood Sport Ltd. Today, we are looking forward to a very promising partnership with SRO in global motorsport activities,“ said Jean-Pascal Dauce, Renault Sport Technologies Competition Director.

“SRO is delighted to have been appointed to take over the running of two of Britain’s most prestigious and successful national championships” commented Stephane Ratel, Chairman of SRO Motorsport Group. “We are well aware of Renault’s heritage in British motorsport stretching back to the 1970s and SRO will continue working hard to enhance the standing of its championships. I believe our appointment will be very good news for aspiring young drivers. We will be able to open doors for progression as already seen with the Formula Renault 3.5 Series tests for F3 leaders, and F3 tests the Formula Renault 2.0 UK drivers recently enjoyed.”

The two Renault national championships will be run from SRO’s London office and managed by experienced organiser Lisa Crampton, alongside her responsibilities for the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series and Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

Both one-make series will continue to run as prominent support races to the British Touring Car Championship and Formula Renault 2.0 UK will also feature at the World Series by Renault meeting next year at Silverstone arena circuit on 20/21 August. Clio Cup UK will retain a 16 round calendar as previously announced.

SRO replaces Grovewood Sport Ltd as the UK’s Promoter. Explaining his decision to move on Managing Director Simon North commented: “Although we have enjoyed three hugely successful years as promoter and have had a great working relationship with Renault I have decided to fully concentrate in future on our public relations and media work for our clients. Over the past three years I have had wonderful support from TOCA, BARC, our close-knit organising team plus the teams and drivers of all the Renault championships and I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you.”

Championship Co-ordinator Pauline Platts will continue in her role in 2011 having been appointed by SRO, ensuring a smooth transition.

Surrey-based Jason Mills made an impressive debut in front of a record crowd of 42,000 people this weekend at Brands Hatch as he took to the track for his first outing in the ELF Renault Clio Cup with Jamie Hunter Racing.

Following two 45 minute test sessions on Friday Mills faced qualifying which saw him take tenth for the first race and eighth place for the second race, “It was a steep learning curve for me, everyone is so closely matched pace wise, and it’s easy to forget that these drivers have been in these cars for the whole season and this is my first weekend in the Clio Cup series. Qualifying was average; however we ended up safely inside the top 10 for both races. ” commented Mills.

With the Kent fog lingering the track conditions were far from ideal as drivers struggled to get warmth in their tyres on the way around to the grid. As the lights went out for race 1 everything seemed to be going well for the 20-year-old until he rounded Graham Hill bend and was forced wide and in to a spin as he put down the power out of the corner on cold tyres.

Despite dropping to last place Mills would make a spirited comeback as he lapped faster that the five cars in front of him, by the end of the race he had pulled himself back up to eleventh. “Putting the spin on lap one aside I’m really happy with my performance, I feel I put on a great show and proved that overtaking does happen in the Clio Cup series by climbing from last up to 11th. “ said Mills.

The weather would prove to be a lot better on Sunday as the early fog cleared and the sun cut through the clouds. Starting from eighth on the grid this time Mills achieved a good start gaining three places on the opening lap. Throughout the race Mills outpaced his more experienced team-mate Lee Pattinson who would finish second place in the 2010 championship.

As the chequered flag came out Mills would take an impressive fifth place, giving a small taste of things to come in the future. “We started from P8 on the grid for Race 2, and we knew that a strong finish was on the cards if i could make a good start and battle my way through the first lap, and this is exactly what i did.” he said.

“I made a mega getaway from the start and threaded my way through the middle of Robinson and Pattison, I then stuck to the outside of Paddock Hill Bend and Druids and eventually found myself in fifth place by the end of the first lap, I kept my head down and crossed the line in P5.

“I was ecstatic when i took the chequered flag and all the hard work we put in over the weekend had paid off, a great team effort and a special thanks to my driver coach Matt Kelly.”

Summing up the weekend Mills commented: “Going into the weekend i knew it was going to be a very steep learning curve for me, however with the support from JHR and Matt, I knew that we had everything in place to come away with strong results.

“After a tough 2010 season I’m really pleased to end the season on a high, and after finishing P5 in Race 2 that really put the icing on the cake. We have many options me and Matt Kelly of Mattkelly.co.uk driver management team are looking into for 2011, so watch this space.”

Matt Kelly added: “I was very pleased with the attitude and application that Jason bought to the weekend, It’s a very competitive environment in the Clio Cup so to come away with a hard fought 5th Place in race two shows that he has a high level of ability and should consider a return to the Clio Cup for the 2011 season, it’s a great end to what has been a hard year for Jason with many disappointments, so I was pleased to be able to contribute towards a great end of season result, and look forward to continuing to work with Jason”

You can keep up to date with Jason via his Facebook page at , via Twitter at or via the soon to be re-launched website.

Report: Vince Pettit
Photography: Jakob Ebrey Photography