Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire welcomes the Clio Cup next weekend, where Brett Lidsey will be targeting a continuation of the superb momentum which delivered two podiums during the championship curtain-raiser a fortnight ago.
Making an outstanding start to his second full season in the ultra-competitive category at Brands Hatch, his home track, theNorthfleetdriver starred with two excellent drives to third place in the first two races of the year – his maiden podium results in the series.
Beginning the rain-affected opening round from fourth on the grid, Lidsey charged into third off the start and after battling the top two early on he then had to turn his attentions to defending his podium placing. Doing so stoutly, the 27-year-old displayed excellent racecraft and determination.
Race two, which was broadcast across the UK on ITV4, was an altogether different prospect for Lidsey when a slide at the first corner, having started a Renault UK Clio Cup career-best third on the grid, dropped him down the order to seventh place in his MRM-prepared car.
Fighting back brilliantly, he sliced his way through into the top three again to cap a truly memorable weekend with his highest ever championship placing, third position. Now, heading to Donington, the Liftout, GHR Scaffolding Ltd, GPL Projects Ltd, Certus Security, Dornack, Taylor Made Decals, MS Motorsport and MSY Grab Hire & Mini Digger Hire backed racer is sure he can replicate that form.
During the corresponding race meeting last season, Lidsey properly announced his arrival in the British Touring Car Championship support category with a career best, at that point, top six run in qualifying during a wet-but-drying session, followed by a best race result of fifth position.
“I’m really looking forward to being back at Donington, we went well there last season and after the start to the year we had at Brands a couple of weeks ago everyone is feeling very confident”, said Lidsey, “To leave my home track third in the championship was a very special feeling, and being on the podium twice – my first ever podiums in the Renault UK Clio Cup – was incredible.
“We’ve all put in a huge amount of work since last season, we might not have the budget of some of the other drivers and teams but our work ethic is second to none and that’s what helped us to be so competitive at Brands. Clios are always unbelievably competitive, so we know we’ll have our work cut out at Donington, but we’re going there with confidence as high as it realistically can be.”
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