The Bill Richards Racing team headed to Silverstone for the latest round of the Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship. The races would be taking place on the full grand prix circuit layout, the Clubman getting a rare opportunity to race on the full version of the Silverstone track. Whilst the larger circuits don’t suit the Clubman the team was optimistic the Clubman would be a competitive proposition within its own class.

Qualifying

The length of the circuit meant that the Clubman would only be able to put in a limited number of flying laps within the timed qualifying session so after using the outlap to build brake and tyre temperatures the Clubman got straight down to business. Quickly settling into the unfamiliar surroundings the Clubman edged down its best lap time to qualify 23rd on the grid and 1st in class.

Race 1

The field made their way around the circuit on the formation lap behind the pace car – a truly impressive sight with the train of cars snaking their way around to take the start. As the race got under way the Clubman was passed by a Vento but within a lap the Clubman had regained the position and also scythed passed a Tomcat. Impressively the Clubman continued to gain places passing a Cosworth and a Golf in quick succession before Cosworth power told and the turbo charged machine passed the Clubman.

Having been passed the Clubman was soon back on the offensive and made up another place passing a 205 as the race entered its closing stages. Further positions were gained on the closing lap as cars ahead retired from the fray, the Clubman flashing across the line to take the flag in 19th position for a class win.

Race 2

With starting positions for the second race being decided by the finishing positions from race 1 the Clubman would have a more advantageous grid slot for the second rolling start. Having followed the pack on the sighting lap the Clubman soon got the hammer down once the race got underway and gained two positions on the opening lap passing a 205 and an Impreza. The Clubman stayed ahead of the Impreza as the race passed the halfway mark and the pair soon closed down and passed a Starion and an ailing SEAT. Battle was soon joined with an Astra, the Clubman latching onto the more powerful machine through the slower sections of the circuit. The two cars circulated in close proximity with each playing to their strengths to seek a decisive break.

The final lap of the race saw the Clubman gain another position as a Cosworth retired from the fray, the punishing race taking its toll on a number of competitors with an unusually high rate of attrition. The Clubman took the chequered flag hard on the heels of the Astra in 12th place overall and 1st in class.

On a circuit that theoretically didn’t suit the small engined Clubman it turned in a superb performance to take two impressive overall finishes in a large entry and also a pair of class wins. The team can be very satisfied with the performance of the Clubman throughout the meeting and can now look forward to the final round of the DMN championship at Brands Hatch.