Team Pyro's Josh Files took a number of positives from a highly frustrating outing in the Renault Eurocup Clio Championship at Belgium’s legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (1-2 June), where he preserved his points tally with a podium finish.
After a sensational season-opener at Imola, the ultra-competitive Eurocup Clio Championship joined the illustrious World Series by Renault (WSR) programme at Spa.
Two rain-affected free practice sessions and a red flag-ridden qualifying meant Files and his Eurocup competitors went into Saturday’s opening race with little knowledge and experience of the 7km circuit in the dry.
Despite being unable to complete a single flying lap for much of qualifying, Files went on to set the third fastest time, before being slapped with a grid drop for failing to respect the track limits.
The grid penalty was lifted upon appeal and Files would eventually line-up second for the opening Clio encounter after benefiting from a similar penalty for one of his counterparts.
At the start of Round 3, 22-year old Files held position through La Source. He took the initiative on the rise over the infamous Eau Rouge corner, before Eric Tremoulet and Nicolas Milan got the better of him on the protracted run along the Kemmel straight to the Les Combes chicane.
Three-abreast through the long right-hand Rivage turn, Files ran off the racing line and onto the marbles to spin into the barriers. The Norwich-based racer stubbornly continued on his way, grabbing his ailing Clio by the scruff of the neck to surge back up to the podium places.
However, Files was left furious when the stewards later demoted him to tenth for allegedly exceeding the track limits.
An enraged Files said: “The stewards’ decisions were ridiculous and completely inconsistent throughout the weekend and I’m not sure they were even aware of what was occurring on the track half the time. Round 3 was horrendous and I only went off track to avoid collisions so I was undeserving of a penalty.
“My spin on the opening lap was caused by cold tyres. My car’s rear end got away from me on the marbles and I gave the barriers a fair whack. Damaged suspension made left-hand turns like the flat-out Blanchimont very hairy but, despite that, I wrestled the car home to cross the line in third, only to have all that hard work undone by an absurd penalty.”
Files translated a third-place starting position into a podium finish in Round 4 on Sunday (2 June). He was tapped into a spin as the field negotiated the La Source hairpin for the first time but produced an admirable recovery from 15th to take points for third place.
“My front tyres were destroyed for race two but I pushed as hard as I could to recover the lost ground,” said Files. “I can take a lot of positives away from what was a really frustrating weekend, as we had the pace to win and left Belgium still second in the overall championship standings.
“There are some clutch and brakes-related issues that need addressing before the next round, but we plan to do more testing to make the car go faster. It’s essential that we do well next time around."
Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2013 Renault Eurocup Clio Championship will take place on 19-20 July at Austria's spectacular Red Bull Ring.
For more information on Josh Files’ racing activities, please visit the official www.joshfiles.co.ukwebsite, 'like' his Facebook page or follow @JoshFiles on Twitter.