Rob Smith endured a very trying weekend in the latest rounds of the Renault UK Clio Cup at Thruxton, a high-speed qualifying accident setting the scene for two difficult races.
The Telford racer’s weekend got off to the worst possible start in qualifying, when a slight moment through Goodwood unceremoniously pitched his Clio off the circuit backwards into the nearby marshal post with a heavy impact
A fantastic effort by the Total Control Racing team got his car repaired in little under three hours, ensuring Rob was able to take up his place on the grid for round five. The 20 year old started nineteenth, but a fine drive saw him knocking on the top ten in the final few laps, finishing up twelfth.
The Goodride Performance Tyres, Grouptyre, BMTR, Group Tyre Wholesale and Exhaust Tyres and Batteries-supported racer had to try and mount another recovery drive in round six, however a distinct lack of grip throughout the race resulted in a seventeenth place finish.
“All in all, race one wasn’t too bad – especially after thinking we were going home after qualifying following the accident,” said Smith. “We just need to get back where we were at the start of the season, be up around the top 10 in qualifying and then we know the results will come.”
