Luke Kidsley produced the best qualifying performance of his Renault UK Clio Cup career to date at Snetterton today, with the JamSport Racing ace putting himself on the front row of the grid for both of tomorrow’s races.
The race weekend hadn’t kicked off in the most positive fashion for Kidsley in Friday’s opening test session, with a mistake into the Wilson hairpin leading to his Clio rolling over – damage from which forced him to sit out the second session.
The loss of track time didn’t seem to affect him in qualifying though as he dealt expertly with changing weather conditions to post the third fastest time overall, though a penalty for team-mate Ant Whorton-Eales puts him second on the grid for both races.
It marks the first time this season that Kidsley has qualified higher than ninth, and also improves on his previous best of fifth from the 2015 season finale at Brands Hatch – the results coming in a session in which Kidsley, Whorton-Eales and new team-mate Chris Smiley all impressed.
“I’m delighted with that for obvious reasons,” said Kidsley. “Maybe after the accident yesterday I relaxed a bit and stopped over-thinking things which has had an effect.
“It also rewards the terrific job the JamSport team put in to patching up the car – it might not look the prettiest but it feels good as new. They’ve also got all three cars inside the top six on both grids which is a major effort.”
