Dave Newsham scorched to the top of the time sheets at Snetterton during the official test session for the 2010 ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin on Wednesday (24th March).
Newsham set the leading time of 1:17.826s (90.29mph average) as he returns for his second seasonn the one make championship.
The time set by the 42-year old was good enough to beat the current lap record of 1:17.975s set by Matt Allison and also the best time set by last year’s runner up Alex MacDowall.
Commenting on his performance Newsham said: “Pyro have given me a great car which feels much sharper and I can't wait to begin racing. I've tested well all season and I'm certainly feeling confident ahead of the first rounds at Thruxton.”
Sam Tordoff finished second fastest in the test with a 1:17.966 (90.13mph average) in his Total Control Racing Clio as he strapped on a new set of tyres after running the first two sessions on old tyres.
TCR team principal Lee Brookes commented: “It was a good day in all honesty, we're very pleased with Sam's pace and we came away from Snetterton exactly where we thought we'd be. Had we used new tyres in the morning then I've no doubt we'd have been quickest overall.
“We know we can go quicker. Sam wasn't happy with his fastest time from the afternoon as he felt his lap wasn't as tidy as it should have been so, considering he was still two 10ths of a second clear of anyone else at that point, that's very encouraging.”
The opening rounds of the ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin season take place at Hampshire's Thruxton circuit on 3rd/4th April.
| Pos | # | CL | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | M | Dave Newsham | Team Pyro | 1:17.826 |
| 2 | 44 | G | Sam Tordoff | Total Control Racing | 1:17.966 |
| 3 | 99 | Aron Smith | Team Pyro | 1:18.174 | |
| 4 | 9 | G | James Colburn | Westbourne Motorsport | 1:18.268 |
| 5 | 33 | G | Jack Goff | Team Pyro | 1:18.395 |
| 6 | 88 | G | David Dickenson | Team Pyro | 1:18.463 |
| 7 | 18 | M | Patrick Collins | Westbourne Motorsport | 1:19.020 |
| 8 | 46 | G | Robert Gaffney | Westbourne Motorsport | 1:19.262 |
| 9 | 10 | M | Darren Wilson | 20Ten Racing Limited | 1:20.500 |
| 10 | 15 | Matthew Munsen | Blue Square Data/Stancombe Vehicle Engine | 1:20.950 |
Photo credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
