Stefan Hodgetts Leading The Pack Into Cascades - Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Stefan Hodgetts produced a flawless display on his return to the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK with a dominant victory in Round Seven at Oulton Park.
Hodgetts, making his first appearance in the championship this season with Scuderia Vittoria, started the race on pole position and converted it to a stunning lights to flag win ahead of championship leader Jack Goff.
Hodgetts said: “It was really good. Obviously getting the win for Scuderia Vittoria is fantastic, it couldn't have gone much better. As for tomorrow, it has to be the same again. We're starting on pole so anything less than a win is a failure. I am very focused and committed on winning tomorrow and it's made easier as half the job is done already.”
A great start from pole for Hodgetts saw him hold off Goff and reigning champion Paul Rivett into the first corner, while behind, a collision in the mid-pack saw an incident between Nicolas Hamilton, James Colburn and Finlay Crocker, all three forced to retire due to it.
After a short safety car period, Hodgetts led away, with PER HIRE Stancombe Vehicle Engineering's Rivett in hot pursuit. Rivett looked to challenge for the lead, however a miscalculation at the chicane caused him to collide with the barrier, forcing his retirement.
This gifted second to Goff and the Team Pyro man held it to the end for his fifth podium of the season, extending his championship lead, while completing the podium was Josh Cook, the 20Ten Racing driver working his way through from sixth on the grid to take his maiden podium and with it the Rookie Cup trophy.
Team Pyro duo Adam Bonham and Josh Files completed the top five, while behind a heated battle for sixth went the way of Ant Whorton-Eales ahead of James Dixon, running with Total Control Racing after a pre-event switch of teams, and Aaron Williamson. Mike Bushell and William Davison completed the top ten.
Darren Wilson took the ELF Masters Trophy in sixteenth, while falling back to eighteenth and nineteenth respectively after an unfortunate last lap incident was Ronnie Klos and Kim Andersson.
