Ant Whorton-Eales and Ashley Sutton produced a nail-biting finale to their Renault UK Clio Cup race two duel at Silverstone yesterday, with the destination of the race win not known until the final corner.
After sitting under his title rivals rear bumper for the duration of the race, Sutton made his move on the final lap coming out of Copse corner, taking to the grass on the approach to Becketts as he squeezed though.
His advantage was short-lived as Whorton-Eales stormed back past down the Wellington Straight, taking the outside line into Brooklands as they ran-side-by-side through the left hander.
Bumping between the two led to a heart-in-mouth moment through Luffield as they both went sideways, but they recovered on track with Whorton-Eales taking the victory.
The Checkered Flag caught up with both drivers after the race to get their thoughts on the dramatic final lap:
Whorton-Eales: “I was determined not to let him past. Any driver that’s led from pole for seventeen laps isn’t then going to let it go on the last one. It was confusing though as everyone’s pitboards showed different laps to go.
“I looked at all the boards and they showed two to go, two to go, then mine said one to go. I trusted mine rather than the majority and went with a final lap attitude, not giving anything away, and he went the other way slightly and gave me a little more room that he might have done.
“I got just enough room to get up the inside at Luffield and have the run to the line, but I hit the back of the kerb really hard and feared I might have broken something. I got there for the win though and I’m delighted, it was a great race.”
Sutton: “I spent the whole race looking at where he was weak and where I could make a move, which I worked out was turn one. I managed to get the run out of him at Copse on the last lap and make the move into Becketts.
“The over-heating problems we’ve had in both races though meant he could just drive straight back past me down the straight, but I managed to just keep my nose down the inside through Brooklands.
“I don’t know what to say about the last corner, as he completely went off the track to do the move he did and gave me a touch, but it is what it is and second place is brilliant considering the issues with the car.”
