James Dixon took Total Control Racing back on to the AirAsia Renault UK Clio Cup podium for the first time in 2012 with a second place finish in Round Nine at Snetterton.
In only his second race meeting back with the Wednesbury team, Dixon qualified a season-best third fastest for the opening race. Dropping to fourth initially, he gained two places on lap six when rivals tangled ahead, finishing up second. Starting in ninth for race two, Dixon was unable to make many inroads through the field, finishing seventh.
Team-mates Rob Smith and Nicolas Hamilton were evenly matched in the opening race, finishing eleventh and twelfth, with just 0.001s between them as they crossed the finish line side-by-side. The second race saw both retire in separate incidents, Smith making contact with David Grady at the chicane and retiring with broken steering, Hamilton getting hit in the rear by Ronnie Klos to cause an instant retirement.
“It’s nice for the team to be back on the podium in Clios, it’s been a while but fantastic to be there and just a shame we couldn’t challenge for the win in the end as we felt we had the pace to do that with James this weekend”, said TCR Team Principal Russell Brookes.
“Rob and Nic have both had some bad luck again this weekend, when you’re in that middle pack there’s always a chance of getting caught up in incidents. Saturday’s race was good though, they both raced well and showed they’ve got the potential to be in that top 10 if qualifying goes right.”
