After a strong performance in Saturday’s qualifying, Team Pyro’s Josh Files was left frustrated after rounds 11 & 12 of the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup yesterday (Sunday, 23rd September), at Northamptonshire’s Rockingham circuit.
The driver, backed as part of Direct Debit’s Big Break Campaign, was unable to capitalise on his second place qualifying performance in a dry race one, after getting bogged down at the start before slipping back into the midfield where contact with Westbourne Motorsport’s James Colburn at the hairpin, damaged the Norwich based racer’s car, leading to mechanical issues.
Weather conditions drastically changed for round 12 of the championship as the rain prevailed on the 1.94 mile circuit meaning that the race would have to start from behind the safety car for a two lap period.
Files’ grid position would also be affected by a two-place grid penalty after his collision in the previous race with James Colburn, but this didn’t deter the talented youngster who immediately set about Mike Bushell, making a move stick at Tarzan.
The 2011 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup Rookie of the year soon became involved in a battle with Scuderia Vittoria’s Stefan Hodgetts, but apart from briefly losing position to the KX Akademy driver, Files held the upper hand and continued to chase down Team Pyro teammate Adam Bonham, before overtaking the youngster at the Chicane for fifth.
Championship front-runner Files, soon launched himself hot-on-the-heels of 20 Ten Racing’s Josh Cook, applying vast amounts of pressure at Tarzan on the penultimate lap of the race, Files remained in fifth position at the chequered flag however after his tireless attack.
“The first race didn’t go to plan for me,” explained Files. “The delay at the start was really long so I crawled forward but hit the brakes just as the lights went green, losing about eighth places.”
“I managed to get back up to fifth but contact with Colburn at the hairpin broke my steering and any chance of a strong finish.”
“The car felt absolute mega throughout the second race; I was just so fast that I was quickest in the first and second sectors outright in the race, I think that if we hadn’t of been slapped with the penalty, we could have had the pace to win from sixth.”
“I just want to look ahead to Silverstone now and get a strong points haul next time out to boost my position in the championship, bring it on.”
The AirAsia Renault Clio Cup will take a short two week break before resuming at Silverstone circuit in two weeks time for rounds 13 & 14 of the one-make championship.
For all information regarding Josh Files and his racing activity in the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup please view his Facebook page, or alternatively follow @JoshFiles on Twitter.