The Team BMR with Pyro drivers enjoyed an impressive start to the 25th Anniversary season of the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Championship at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend with Mike Bushell coming away with the teams first podium of the year.
Saturdays qualifying session saw Mike Bushell setting the quickest time of the BMR backed drivers setting a time of 52.390 seconds around the 1.2 mile circuit, placing him 5th on the grid for the first race of the season with team mates Josh Price qualifying just behind him in 6th and Senna Proctor in 15th. Ant Whorton-Eales took pole position with a time of 52.173 seconds.
The opening race of the day was led by Streather from the first corner at Paddock Hill bend after Rowbottom span out. Streather fought a good battle managing to hold off his follow competitors for the duration of the race. Mike finished in 4th less than a second behind Pattison and Rivett. Mikes team mates also enjoyed a great race with Josh finishing 7th and Senna completing his first outing in an impressive 11th place.
The crowds flocked to a sunny Brands Hatch on Sunday morning for the second round of the Renault UK Clio Cup that Lee Pattison would lead from pole position, managing to break away from former champions Paul Rivett and Mike who were locked in a battle for second position with Rivett eventually coming out on top and taking 2nd position. Mike completed the podium in 3rd.
Josh ended his race in 7th but received a five second time penalty for exceeding track limits dropping him back down the final order in 13th with Senna finishing in 21st after tangling with a fellow competitor in the opening lap of the race.
Mike Bushell said: “It was great to be back at the sharp end of a highly competitive field, something wish I sorely missed last year. It was good to be on the pace straight away and I was very happy with fastest in testing, however a slight mis-judgement on rear tyres between myself and the team meant we couldn't quite get the most from the car.
“Brands Hatch is a notoriously difficult circuit to overtake on and race one starting from 4th led to finishing 4th, albeit 1 second away from the win as we finished nose to tail across the line.
“For race 2, both myself and pyro made the car come alive and was really raceable, I was able to move from 6th to 3rd in the early stage of the race before having a titanic scrap with multiple champion Paul Rivett for 2nd place. I think Paul and I will certainly feature together at the front of the pack all year.
“Looking onwards to Donington, qualifying performance is the key and I will be looking to make the most of the speed when it counts.”
The Renault UK Clio Cup Championship resumes at Donington Park in Leicestershire on April 16/17
Saturdays qualifying session saw Mike Bushell setting the quickest time of the BMR backed drivers setting a time of 52.390 seconds around the 1.2 mile circuit, placing him 5th on the grid for the first race of the season with team mates Josh Price qualifying just behind him in 6th and Senna Proctor in 15th. Ant Whorton-Eales took pole position with a time of 52.173 seconds.
The opening race of the day was led by Streather from the first corner at Paddock Hill bend after Rowbottom span out. Streather fought a good battle managing to hold off his follow competitors for the duration of the race. Mike finished in 4th less than a second behind Pattison and Rivett. Mikes team mates also enjoyed a great race with Josh finishing 7th and Senna completing his first outing in an impressive 11th place.
The crowds flocked to a sunny Brands Hatch on Sunday morning for the second round of the Renault UK Clio Cup that Lee Pattison would lead from pole position, managing to break away from former champions Paul Rivett and Mike who were locked in a battle for second position with Rivett eventually coming out on top and taking 2nd position. Mike completed the podium in 3rd.
Josh ended his race in 7th but received a five second time penalty for exceeding track limits dropping him back down the final order in 13th with Senna finishing in 21st after tangling with a fellow competitor in the opening lap of the race.
Mike Bushell said: “It was great to be back at the sharp end of a highly competitive field, something wish I sorely missed last year. It was good to be on the pace straight away and I was very happy with fastest in testing, however a slight mis-judgement on rear tyres between myself and the team meant we couldn't quite get the most from the car.
“Brands Hatch is a notoriously difficult circuit to overtake on and race one starting from 4th led to finishing 4th, albeit 1 second away from the win as we finished nose to tail across the line.
“For race 2, both myself and pyro made the car come alive and was really raceable, I was able to move from 6th to 3rd in the early stage of the race before having a titanic scrap with multiple champion Paul Rivett for 2nd place. I think Paul and I will certainly feature together at the front of the pack all year.
“Looking onwards to Donington, qualifying performance is the key and I will be looking to make the most of the speed when it counts.”
The Renault UK Clio Cup Championship resumes at Donington Park in Leicestershire on April 16/17