Stefan Hodgetts mastered changing conditions at Rockingham to take pole positions for Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup.
Championship leader Josh Files led the way early in the session as the Clio’s pounded the track in wet tyres, but the times began to tumble in the final ten minutes as the drivers made the switch to slick tyres.
Hodgetts once again showcased his class to take pole position by over six tenths of a second with a best lap of 1m 38.248s, the Scuderia Vittoria ace making it a clean sweep with the best second fastest time.
The ever-improving conditions created a few surprises at the top of the times in the final few seconds, with Jake Giddings benefitting from taking the flag last to take second for the opening race.
Ignas Gelzinis produced his best ever qualifying performance in the championship to take third for the opening race ahead of Devon Modell, while Files was left to settle for fifth ahead of the leading Masters Cup entrant Ronnie Klos.
The grid for the second race sees Gelzinis second, with Giddings joined on row two by the impressive Tautvydas Barstys to make it two Juta Racing cars in the top four. Klos and Files will share row three again, but with their positions switched.
Files’ chief championship rival Paul Rivett secured a pair of eighth place starts, sitting behind Ash Hand for both, while Mike Bushell made a strong return after his BTCC debut at Knockhill last month to take ninth for both.
Hopes were high for Lee Pattison after setting the pace in pre-event testing yesterday, however the JHR Developments racer could only take fourteenth and eleventh for the two races, with his team-mate Josh Cook left frustrated in fifteenth and fourteenth.
Michelin Clio Cup Series graduates Luke Herbert and Peter Felix share row twelve for both races, with Herbert in front for the opening race, Felix for race two.
Full qualifying results can be found here: http://tsl-timing.com/toca/2013/133703cli.pdf
