BMR Academy and Pyro Motorsport driver Bradley Burns made history last weekend at Donington Park with another outstanding performance in the Renault UK Clio Cup.
16-year-old Bradley had a spectacular qualifying session on Saturday and set a time placing him third on the grid for race one. He then followed that up setting the fastest time for race two making him the youngest ever driver in the history of the Clio Cup to take a pole position.
With a very chilly circuit on Sunday the first race got underway with all competitors making clean starts off the line, but drama then started to unfold with WDE Motorsport team-mates Paul Rivett and Lee Patterson both leaving the circuit. Bradley managed to initially avoid getting caught up in the incidents however, contact from behind then sent him into a spin at McLeans before managing to regain control, albeit dropping down to thirteenth. The safety car was then deployed to retrieve the stricken cars.
With a bit more heat in the tyres it was a good restart. After a great battle with Osborne & Epps, Bradley eventually crossed the finish line in tenth alongside teammate Fulks with a mere 0.007 seconds between them. also picking up two extra points in the process for setting the fastest lap of the race.
The nineteen car grid lined up for Race Two with Clio Cup Graduate Bradley in pole position for the very first time in what is proving to be a very competitive championship.
With the lights out Bradley got a good start but Jack McCarthy got past him into the first corner. Bradley managed to fight off the advances of Rivett and held onto second position through the first corner however, in a bid to avoid contact he then left the circuit at Roberts dropping back to fifth but remained with the leading pack. Colburn then span out moving Bradley up to fourth and then taking a position back from McCarthy he passed him for third and immediately took Rivett for second with McCarthy following him through and right on his tail. A great battle then ensued at the front of the field with James Dorlin still leading and Bradley edging his nose past him and taking the lead briefly before the pair switched back to their original positions. Bradley wasn’t going to give up easily and he continued to fight for the leading spot whilst also defending from McCarthy. The trio crossed the line with just half a second between them with Bradley taking second and entering the history books once more being the youngest ever driver to achieve a top three finish in the Clio Cup and once again setting the fastest lap of the race and a new lap record.
A superb display by the youngster and definitely one to watch on his next time out at his home circuit at Thruxton in Hampshire on the weekend of the 19th and 20th May.
Bradley commented “I’m really happy. Race one didn’t really go to plan but to come away with P2 in race two, with the fastest lap in both races and the lap record, more than makes up for it. Becoming the youngest every pole-sitter and youngest ever podium finisher in Renault UK Clio Cup history makes it even more special.”
Written by Maddy Turner
Photos by Jakob Ebrey