Renault UK Clio Cup front-runners Scuderia Vittoria suffered a mixed weekend of emotion in the 2013 season opener at Brands Hatch, with a double class win for Finlay Crocker tainted by a tough start for the team’s overall championship challengers.
2007 vice-champion Stefan Hodgetts had a tough start to the year. The opening race saw him storm through the field from twelfth into fourth, however a drive through penalty and combined twelve second penalty for exceeding track limits left him eighteenth.
A slightly more positive second race saw Hodgetts finish seventh, two places behind his fellow KX Akademy backed team-mate Ant Whorton-Eales, who capped off a solid if unspectacular opening weekend having finished sixth in race one.
The team’s One Call Insurance backed Masters Cup contenders couldn’t have had any more different weekends. While Crocker a great double class win, Ronnie Klos failed to finish either races due to contact in both.
For series newcomer Josh Wakefield, retirement in race one was made better by a strong run in race two. Having gained ten no less than ten places on the first lap, the former British GT4 contender eventually slipped back to thirteenth place.
Fellow series rookie Devon Modell had a strong weekend, taking thirteenth in the opener, before working his way up from eighteenth to eleventh in race two.
“We’ve had a weekend full of ups and downs,” said team director Danny Buxton. “It wasn’t the best qualifying session for us, but the guys got stuck in and did whatever they could to recover in both races.
“I’m convinced that we have a championship winning package, so we’ll continue to work hard with the drivers to ensure that we are on top at Donington Park.
“I couldn’t have asked anymore of Finlay Crocker this weekend, I’m delighted that he has come away from Brands Hatch with two Masters Cup victories. I’m sure that he’ll be right on it again at Donington Park with Ronnie Klos in close pursuit.”
