Lee Pattison emerged as the winner of Round 6 of the 2010 ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin. Torrential rain left the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit soaked, making driving conditions extremely difficult, but it was Pattison who best coped with the situation, taking the win despite starting back in ninth on the grid.
The top four on the grid was the same as the weekend's first race, with Team Pyro's Dave Newsham again on pole position, with Sam Tordoff, Mike Robinson and James Colburn behind. As the lights went out, Newsham was able to pull ahead, with a great start from JHR Development driver Fulvio Mussi putting him alongside Tordoff as they entered Paddock Hill Bend. Two into one didn't go, with the two making contact, forcing Tordoff into retirement, though Mussi was able to continue.
With the drivers having to come to terms with the tricky conditions, positions were changing throughout the field on the first lap, with Robinson getting past Mussi into second, followed by Tom Carnaby, who had moved up from eighth on the grid to fourth. Newsham wasn't able to cement his lead at the front though, with Robinson passing him through Westfield on lap three. Two laps later, Newsham lost out again, running wide at Surtees, allowing Mussi and Carnaby through and dropping him to fourth.
On the next lap, it was Robinson's turn to run wide at Surtees, losing his lead and dropping down into fifth. JHR Development's Mussi acquired the lead, followed closely by Carnaby, Newsham and Pattison, who had slowly worked his way up the field. Carnaby was the next driver to lose out, getting passed by Newsham, and then Pattison, on consecutive laps at Paddock Hill Bend.
Pattison looked the quickest man on track and proved so a couple of laps later, passing Newsham into Paddock Hill Bend to take second, before passing Mussi at Surtees on the same lap to take the lead. Newsham followed him through to take second place, leaving Mussi having to defend from Carnaby for the final podium place. He was unable to hold on though, with Carnaby squeezing his way through into third.
As the action packed race drew to a close, it was Pattison who crossed the line to take his second win of the season and the Masters Cup honours. Newsham followed closely behind in second, with Carnaby coming third to record his first podium of the season and his first Graduate Cup win, with Mussi bringing his car home fourth. Despite finishing fifth on the road, Team Pyro's Jack Goff was later handed a time penalty, dropping him to sixth and promoting Robinson into fifth. Robert Gaffney, James Colburn, Jeff Smith and David Dickenson rounded off the top ten.
There's now a five week break before Rounds 7 and 8 take place at Oulton Park on 5th/6th June. Newsham comes away from Brands Hatch having extended his championship lead, now having a 42 point advantage over Lee Pattison, with Mike Robinson and James Colburn behind. A disappointing DNF in the second race leaves one of the pre-season title favourites Tordoff down in fifth place in the championship, with lots to do to get back in contention.
