Max Coates has expressed his delight at taking a pair of Graduate Cup victories on his Renault UK Clio Cup debut with Ciceley Motorsport at Brands Hatch.
The former BTCC racer qualified tenth and eighth for the two races in his first race outing in front wheel drive machinery, and quickly found himself in the thick of the action across both encounters.
The opening race saw Coates climb as high as fifth during a superb opening lap, before emerging from a race long battle with Charlie Ladell and Josh Price in sixth position at the flag.
A similar fast start in race two was unrewarded for the Yorkshireman though as he was shuffled back to twelfth, but a strong recovery drive produced a hard-earned eighth place finish.
“I’m thrilled with my weekend’s results. I was aiming for two top seven finishes which I knew would be hard, so I’m chuffed that I almost achieved that,” said Coates.
“Not only that, I’m delighted to have taken the Graduate Cup win in both races, which shows that it’s only those with a lot of experience in these front wheel drive Clio’s that have been able to beat me.
“It’s very satisfying to be so close to the front this season and it bodes well for the next round at Donington Park, a track I really like and have been successful around in the past.”
