Rockingham in Northamptonshire, one of the most unique challenges on the Renault UK Clio Cup calendar, will host rounds 13 and 14 of the season this coming weekend, where Brett Lidsey is confident of mounting a bid for a brace of top 10 results at the very least. 
Making a very strong start to the second half of the 2018 season just over a week ago at a rain-hit Snetterton 300 Circuit in Norfolk, the MRM driver impressed with top six race pace and two superb drives from the back of the grid in each contest – enforced after a luckless excursion in qualifying.
Showcasing his true ability with some tremendous racecraft, Northfleet-based Lidsey gained no less than 12 positions in the opening encounter to break into the top 10 before being edged back late on to a still impressive 13th place.
Race two – which was broadcast live on ITV4 – was a near carbon-copy, scything his way through the order on a terrific first lap and then consolidating his early gains with another points-scoring result in 15th position.
Now, ahead of the ante-penultimate race meeting of the Clio Cup season at Rockingham’s 1.94-mile International Super Sportscar Circuit, Lidsey is brimming with confidence and aiming for a problem free weekend to help his bid to edge closer to the championship top 12.
“Snetterton was a really strong weekend from the point of view of our overall performance, I was really pleased with that”, said the Kent racer, “Obviously, the off in qualifying gave us a lot of hard work to do and meant we couldn’t show our true potential with the results, but the race pace was strong and I was happy with my racecraft. Hopefully we can continue that at Rockingham.”
Without some serious misfortune during his first full season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support category, and the fact he had to forego the visit to Oulton Park in June as it clashed with his wedding, Lidsey would almost certainly be inside the championship top 10 now.
His best qualifying performance to date, and race result too, came during the second race meeting of the year at Donington Park in Leicestershire. Lapping fifth fastest in the grid-determining session, Lidsey went on to chalk-up a best-yet sixth place in round three.
With good memories of his last visit to the East Midlands still fresh in his mind, the Liftout, GHR Scaffolding Ltd, GPL Projects Ltd, Certus Security, Dornack, Taylor Made Decals and MS Motorsport supported driver is relishing his return to the region at Rockingham a few days from now.
“Rockingham is obviously a pretty unique track with the flat-out Oval section and the twisty infield, and the racing there is normally pretty close”, Lidsey commented, “With only six races to go it’s going to be important to score as well as we can, we’ve had a lot of bad luck which has cost us but I’m focused on continuing the momentum from Snetterton and challenging for some big results.”