James Dixon enjoyed a winning start to his 2011 AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK season with victory in Round One at his home circuit Brands Hatch. Contact in Round Two stopped him from challenging for another win, but he still leaves the Kent track third in the championship standings.
Qualifying saw the 21-year-old Total Control Racing driver miss out on pole position for the first race by just 0.021 seconds, with his best two times seeing him on the front row for both rounds. A great start at the beginning of race one saw him leap into the lead at the first corner and then control the rest of the race, taking his third win in a row after winning the final two rounds of last season.
The ABP Heating, Weidmuller and The Art of Decorating-backed racer endured a much tougher second race, with contact at Paddock Hill bend on the opening lap seeing him spin to the back of the field. He eventually worked his way back to a thirteenth placed finish.
Dixon said: “Winning the first race was unbelievable, all the guys at TCR gave me a fantastic car and everything went perfectly really. I made a good start, got the lead and then controlled the race from there. It's always great to start a season with a win, just a shame we had contact in race two.
“I didn't get the best of starts in Sunday's race and as I went into Paddock I got turned around and there was nothing I could do. I pushed on to try and make up as many places as possible but it was one of those races unfortunately. It's fantastic to have got the first win of the year under my belt though and I'm looking forward to Donington now where I'm aiming for two podiums at least.”
