Brands Hatch local Brett Lidsey produced a sensational display during the final event of the all-action Renault UK Clio Cup season over the weekend, to storm to his second race win of the campaign and end the year fourth in the championship.

Facing a tough challenge in a wet round 17 on Saturday from fifth on the grid, the MRM driver from Northfleet surged into second on the run into Paddock Hill Bend and then took the lead at Surtees a lap later on the slippery Grand Prix track to seize a lead he would then hold race-long.

In round 18 on Sunday, Lidsey had a very difficult task to try and overturn the points gap to third in the standings from the sixth row of the grid but he gave it everything in a race interrupted by two Safety Car periods in quick succession. 

Going on to race through to sixth, he ended the final Clio Cup campaign fourth in the championship just 11 points shy of the coveted top three. Lidsey finishes 2019 with a total of two wins, eight other podiums and three pole positions.

“It was very unexpected to win on Saturday to be honest”, said the 28-year-old, “My start was mega to be fair, by the time we got to Paddock I was second and then James [Colburn] and I gapped the pack. Luckily for me he fell off at Surtees, but everyone was sliding around as it was really tricky conditions. It’s obviously fantastic to end the season with another win, and especially at Brands.

“If it wasn’t for the incident in race two at Silverstone when we were taken out, third in the championship would have been ours. Fourth is still great though, and we’ve had a fantastic year with plenty of podiums and some wins. Massive thank you to all my sponsors who have enabled us to do what we have this season, I really do appreciate all of their support.”

Lidsey added: “I’ve got to say an extra special thank you to MRM, the car Mike [Ritchie – team boss] has given me has been unbelievable and definitely one of the fastest on the grid. I want to say congratulations to Jack [Young] as well for winning the championship, he’s such a good guy and a real young talent. It’s been great teaming with him at MRM, and beating him once or twice too!”

Heading to his home track fourth in the championship battle, 22 points shy of third, with confidence high after winning his first race last time out at Silverstone, Lidsey had to settle for the fifth fastest time in a damp qualifying session but, importantly, ahead of his chief rivals for third in the standings.

Finding the grip immediately at the start of race one on Saturday afternoon, Lidsey rocketed from the third row to move up to third and by the time the cars rounded Paddock Hill Bend he was into second place and pursuing pole position starter James Colburn.

Pressuring seasoned Clio Cup campaigner Colburn on lap two, Lidsey passed for the lead at Surtees when Colburn went wide and the MRM racer duly opened an advantage of 2.5 seconds. Following a Safety Car period between laps five and seven, Lidsey was initially pressured by Max Coates before the resurgent Colburn moved back into second with five laps to go.

Keeping his rival at arm’s length to the chequered flag, Lidsey lapped very impressively with unrelenting pressure and wrapped-up a fantastic victory by 0.5 seconds to close to within 14 points of third in the standings. 

Sunday’s finale provided Lidsey with an even sterner test than the day before as he had to line-up an uncharacteristic 11th on the grid, having lost one of his fastest times in qualifying on Saturday due to an unfortunate track limits infringement.

With an unenviable task ahead, rain arrived ahead of round 18 and Lidsey again delivered a superb start. Moving into the top 10 as the cars rounded Paddock Hill Bend, the MRM racer then climbed into eighth as they headed through Druids but at Graham Hill Bend he was edged onto the grass and slipped to 10th position as a result.

An excursion out of Druids on lap one for Ben Colburn triggered the deployment of the Safety Car and the action only resumed on lap eight after barrier repairs were completed. However, a tangle between two cars at the tail of the field as they rounded the final turn meant the Safety Car swiftly re-appeared. 

On lap 11 racing did finally get back underway and Lidsey – in his Liftout, GHR Scaffolding Ltd, GPL Projects Ltd, Certus Security, Dornack, Taylor Made Decals, MS Motorsport and MSY Grab Hire & Mini Digger Hire liveried Clio – moved up into ninth after brother Tyler slid off into the gravel.

Circulating right behind Jamie Bond, Lidsey passed his rival on lap 12 and also got ahead of Jade Edwards as well to leap into seventh position. With a gap of 1.3 seconds to close to the top six, the MRM driver decimated the advantage held in just a single lap and going into the 14th and final tour he was just 0.3 seconds behind Aaron Thompson. 

When Thompson then dramatically rolled after running wide into the gravel, Lidsey duly took sixth place to bring the curtain down on a fantastic season and one in which he made a breakthrough of huge proportions. 

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