Renault UK Clio Cup regular Finlay Crocker was in jubilant mood following an impressive maiden outing on Germany’s infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife.
The Scotsman, running with regular team Scuderia Vittoria, was the sole British participant in the Clio Cup Bohemia’s sixty minute race around the ‘Green Hell’, in support of the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race.
Crocker acclimatised well to the 14 mile, 147 corner circuit and in Saturday’s dry qualiftying session, the Fleetmatics-backed racer qualified seventeenth, within 40 seconds of the pole time.
“I was told before the session that if I got within a minute of pole I should be very satisfied,” said Crocker. “I may have qualified 17th, but the guys in the team were delighted and so enthusiastic.”
Sunday’s race got off to a positive start for Crocker, as he made up several places in the first few corners to sit twelfth as the field headed into the Eifel Mountains. Unfortunately his race as ruined soon after when a collision left him with a bent rear axle and severe front-end damage, including misaligned steering.
Despite this though, Crocker battled to the finish line and came home 21st.
“Another driver got a run on me once we got onto the Nordschleife and tried an ambitious move around the outside through one of the high-speed left-handers,” Crocker explained. “He bounced off the barriers and collected me as he returned to the track. The move was never on. It wasn’t an overtaking place.
“I was disappointed to have been denied an opportunity to translate the pace we showed in qualifying into a result, but the whole event far exceeded my expectations. We went there to do the best job we could and we had an absolutely amazing time. I just wanted to continue driving – I’ve never had so much fun in my life!”
Crocker returns to Renault UK Clio Cup action at Oulton Park on 8/9 June.
