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2007 Elf Renault Clio Cup

Clio Cup: Season finale top six snatched from Herron's grasp

Saloon car racer Andrew Herron saw his bid for a top six finish during the final race of the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup season thwarted on the very last lap at Thruxton Circuit yesterday(Sunday, 14th Oct), a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise outstanding debut season.

After racing to a popular maiden category podium during the 11th round of the campaign on Saturday, the 19-year-old from Dromore in Co. Down had high hopes for another big haul of points today. But as an innocent party in a collision on the run up Woodham Hill on the final tour, Andrew saw a near-certain top six slip through his fingers.

Only the second non-finish of his debut season in cars, the Northern Ireland ace has shown tremendous pace and superb skill throughout 2007 and is fully committed to a return to the British Touring Car Championship-supporting ELF Renault Clio Cup next year where he aims to be a consistent front-runner and genuine title challenger.

Qualifying ninth for round 12, but effectively starting from eighth position due to Ben Winrow being unable to take his slot on the grid following a major collision in Saturday’s race, Andrew made a good getaway to run alongside the vastly experienced Ed Pead through Allard for the first time.

Fighting his way through to sixth place at the complex, the Brian Herron Contracts supported racer was then forced out of the top 10 on the run through Goodwood, Church and up Woodham Hill to the Club Chicane.

With a car stranded at Allard, the Safety Car had to be deployed on lap two and then at the re-start on lap four, an accident involving Jonathan Fildes enabled Andrew to move back into 10th place and he then scythed his way past Philip House into ninth spot.

Posting his fastest tour of the race at that point on lap five, Andrew was lapping quicker than experienced team-mate and former double-champion Paul Rivett and he set an even better time on lap six. At the same point, the JHR Developments ace moved into the top eight following contact at the chicane between Pead and Niki Lanik.

After a short Safety Car period to assist the removal of a car stranded at Noble, the race got underway again on lap 13 and another tangle - this time between Pead, Aron Smith and Jim Edwards Jnr - resulted in Andrew gaining two positions into sixth place.

Smith overtook Andrew at Allard into the final lap but then disaster was to follow when the saloon car rookie was forced into retirement on the run up Woodham Hill, literally, a few hundred yards from the chequered flag. An accident involving Pead and Philip House saw the latter smash into Andrew’s car completely unawares.

Bitterly disappointing for the talented Northern Irishman, he can at least reflect on a weekend which brought him a maiden podium finish during the penultimate race of the season in what is widely regarded as one of the toughest national championships.

Andrew said: “It’s been a great season, I’ve performed better than any other driver in their first year and I’ve impressed a few people along the way so hopefully next year we’ll be back out in Clios and at the front challenging for race wins. I don’t see why I can’t if I can keep improving the way I am at the moment.

“I’m really looking forward to being back in Clios next year, the aim now is to get my head down and test during the winter before coming out strong next year. I think my first season has gone very well. I’m a bit disappointed with the last race this weekend but if I look back at my results from the year, it’s not been bad at all and to be on the podium on Saturday was fantastic.”

Climbing from 11th in the championship standings to eighth position on Saturday, Andrew has now had to settle for ninth place overall, losing out on a top eight finish by just two points. However, he does retain the distinction of being the best performing car racing rookie in this season’s ELF Renault Clio Cup.

HERRON TAKES FIRST EVER CLIO PODIUM AT DRAMATIC THRUXTON

Teenage ELF Renault Clio Cup driver Andrew Herron achieved his maiden category podium at Thruxton on Saturday during the penultimate race of the 2007 season, third position during a dramatic round 11 lifting him into an excellent eighth place in the championship standings. 

Having already produced a string of excellent results during his first ever season of car racing with superb ability far belying his lack of experience, the 19-year-old from Dromore in Northern Ireland saw his dream of a podium result unexpectedly come true today following a chaotic conclusion to the first of the weekend’s two races. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to be on the podium in my first season”, said Andrew, “I really wanted to finish in the top three before the end of the year and to have made that come true is a fantastic feeling.” 

Starting 10th on the grid, the JHR Developments ace confident he could have qualified higher up the order had his Clio not suffered from fuel surge during this morning’s session, Andrew made a good getaway and although looking to challenge for ninth place through Allard he ended lap one in his starting position. 

With an incident at the complex on the opening lap necessitating the deployment of the Safety Car, racing resumed on lap six. After overtaking Ed Pead, Andrew then started to pressurise eighth-placed Aron Smith whom he passed on lap 11. 

Pushing hard to gain more ground before the end of the extended 15-lap race, little did Andrew – nor any of his fellow competitors come to that – expect the scenes which lay ahead at the end of lap 12. 

Oil on the circuit at the Club Chicane, the result of a backmarker’s spin and subsequent sump contact with the high kerbs, saw five of the top eight runners slide wide on the exit and slam into the retaining barriers on the outside. 

Like JHR team-mate Jim Edwards Jnr and championship leader Martin Byford ahead of him, Andrew skilfully managed to avoid the chaos to cross the line into lap 13 in third place before red flags were shown and the action was brought to an early conclusion. 

Looking back on the race, Andrew commented: “Starting 10th I hoped for a decent result and after passing (Ed) Pead and (Aron) Smith I was on the back of (Ben) Winrow and feeling as though I was definitely quicker, everything felt good and the car was quick. 

“I saw the oil flag so I thought I should be a bit wary and back off which I did. Then, I just saw car after car going into the wall. I dabbed the brake, my car went a bit sideways, but I managed to recover it and avoid the problems with the oil. Then the red flags came out and we’re classified third, I’m pleased with the result to say the least!” 

The Brian Herron Contracts-backed driver added: “I should have had a podium finish at Snetterton so this really makes up for that. It’d be great to have another good result in tomorrow’s race. You never know what can happen as today proved. I definitely had the same pace as the boys ahead of me so I’m confident we’ll be strong.
“This result has given me even more confidence, getting onto the podium makes you believe in yourself. I came into Clios straight out of karting and didn’t know what to expect. My first aim was to qualify for the Sunday races, then it was to be in the top 10 and now we’re on the podium! It’d be fantastic to have another great finish tomorrow.”

Herron achieves fifth feature race top 10 of year

As part of the huge World Series by Renault race meeting at the Leicestershire venue, which attracted as many as 135,000 race fans over the course of the weekend, the 10th round of the Clio Cup promised to be an exciting affair after two good qualification races on Saturday, Andrew lining up for today’s points-scoring feature event in 10th place.

The 19-year-old, from Dromore in Co. Down, was due to start from row six rather than row five but with Andrew Jordan failing to make the grid it meant the Northern Irishman would now have an even greater chance of trying to maintain 10th place overall in the driver’s table.

With the packed grid of almost 40 cars ready to entertain the crowds, the start was delayed in bizarre circumstances when the lights on the gantry over the start/finish straight failed to work.

After an equally odd second green flag lap, which saw Alex MacDowall spin and then recover to the wrong grid slot, the start was delayed for a second time of asking before the race finally got underway over an amended distance of 10 laps.

Andrew made a fair getaway, certainly better than the one he made during Saturday’s qualification race, and after running in eighth place early on, the Northern Ireland ace was passed by Mark Speller.

Chasing down Speller and with 2003 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion Jonathan Fildes in close company behind, Andrew lapped consistently strongly before an off for JHR Developments team-mate Jim Edwards Jnr at McLeans Corner promoted the rookie into eighth position.

Forced to defend from the attentions of Fildes first and subsequently Chris Dymond, Andrew still looked assured and after slipping back behind the latter, he soon appeared to gain a second wind as he pressed Dymond almost all the way to the chequered flag.

Running in ninth position, Andrew then unfortunately lost out to Michael Doyle on the 10th and final lap but the points for 11th place see the Northern Irishman hold a nine-point advantage over 12th placed Fildes in the championship standings.

“We had the pace again this weekend, my lap times were pretty good and we scored points which was the aim”, commented Andrew, “It’s unfortunate for us Phil (House) finished in the top six as we were equal 10th place in the championship when we arrived at Donington but we’ve still got a good chance to end the season in the top 10.

“It was good racing with such big crowds, it’s obviously the biggest race meeting I’ve ever competed at, and I’m looking forward to Thruxton now in five weeks to see if we can end our first year in cars on a high.”

The final round of the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup sees the championship return to Thruxton in Hampshire for the second time this year, the event scheduled to take place on 13th/14th October with the series returning to its regular slot on the British Touring Car Championship support package.

OUTSTANDING CAR CONTROL NETS HERRON TOP SIX FINISH 

Andrew Herron underlined his car control during an action-packed round 10 ELF Renault Clio Cup qualification race at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit this afternoon, the Northern Ireland racer producing one of the saves of the season en-route to a  top six result. 

Marking his maiden weekend at the Leicestershire venue's  Grand Prix layout, the 19-year-old, from Dromore in Co. Down, qualified fifth in his group  with a lap of 1m 47.658 seconds (134.5kph) this morning. 

The initial race start was red flagged as the leaders entered lap two due to a major collision involving three cars lower down the order at Melbourne Hairpin, resulting in Ant Scragg's Clio flipping onto its roof and coming to rest on the track. 

At the re-start, which would be contested over seven laps, Andrew didn't make the best getaway unfortunately and after being forced back into eighth position on the run down Craner Curves, the Brian Herron Contracts-supported driver was then faced with a huge slide heading into the Old Hairpin. Recovering well from a moment which looked destined to end in the gravel trap, Andrew rejoined the track in 10th position and after fighting his way back into eighth place on lap four, Andrew was soon on the tail of seventh-placed Jamie Cleland. 

Contact between Andrew Jordan and Ben Winrow at Foggarty's Esses on lap five, which saw both drivers take to the grass, allowed the JHR Developments ace to gain more ground although Jordan did recover in time to prevent the Northern Irishman from taking fifth position. 

Into the seventh and final lap Andrew continued pressing on but in the end had to settle for sixth position, all with a damaged and dislodged rear diffuser, equating to a sixth row start for Sunday's points-scoring 10th round of the ELF Renault Clio Cup campaign. 

Commenting on today's action, Andrew said: "At the start I didn't get away well at all and that put me on the back-foot straightaway. Running down to the Old Hairpin I was on the outside of a couple of cars and ran out of road basically, I dropped a wheel on the grass and had a huge slide, I was actually facing up the hill at one point! 

"I dropped it down a gear, floored the throttle and managed to get the car pointing in the right direction on the exit thankfully. I pushed for a few laps, passed some cars and then caught the leading group. To finish in the top six after all of that isn't too bad at all." 

Looking ahead to tomorrow morning's championship race, which is timetabled to get underway at 11.30 and will be run over 12 laps, Andrew added: "I'm hopeful, as long as I can make a better start, we should be able to achieve a top 10 finish at least. I know I have the pace to be right there at the front. 

"My race pace today was good again, but it's the start which is really important for me. I need to get away well and I think there could be some action ahead of me between a few drivers so hopefully I'll be in a position to benefit from it all. The top 10 will be good but I'll pushing as hard as I can to score as many points as possible."

Bizarre race leads to early Brands exit for Herron

ELF Renault Clio Cup driver Andrew Herron saw his run of eight consecutive feature race points-scoring finishes come to an unfortunate end at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on Sunday afternoon, the JHR Developments driver forced into retirement on the opening lap.

Heading into the ninth round of the season 12th on the grid after finishing in sixth during his qualification heat on Saturday afternoon, the 19-year-old from Dromore had strong hopes of a competitive top 10 finish in today’s race but instead the Northern Ireland ace saw his involvement ended after contact from a competitor pitched him into the barriers.

Making amends for a sluggish getaway in yesterday’s encounter, Andrew made a good start to round nine. Contact between Michael Doyle and Robert Lawson at Paddock Hill Bend, however, triggered a chain of events which ended up with Andrew spinning off into the barriers on the run to Druids Hairpin.

Eliminating him on the spot, red flags were then shown after a subsequent collision between Stefan Hodgetts, Ed Pead and Chris Dymond along Cooper Straight. Unable to take the re-start, Andrew expected to watch the race unfold as a frustrated spectator but a bizarre set of circumstances would follow leading to the race being abandoned.

With several cars unable to take the re-start, as the formation lap got underway Hodgetts spun off of his own accord at Graham Hill Bend which resulted in his contact with the barriers on Cooper Straight. Causing a second delay, race officials decided to abandon the race due to strict TV scheduling for the headline British Touring Car Championship.

Bumped back to being the last race of the day, the ninth round of the Clio Cup did take place in the end but it was sadly without Andrew’s participation. Although his car was too damaged to make the race start, he would have been prevented from racing anyway due to having received assistance from track marshals following his accident.

Although unable to add to his points total this weekend, the Co. Down racer is still in 10th position in the championship standings albeit tied on 81 points now with Dan Eagling and Philip House.

“I got a good start for once, moved alongside Jim (Edwards Jnr) but I was on the outside line and it was wet there”, explained Andrew, “I realised that wasn’t going to work so I pulled back in behind him for the run through Paddock but when we got there Mickey (Doyle) was spinning in the middle of the track.

“I had to brake hard to avoid him but that sent me sideways a little bit. It wasn’t by much and I thought I’d recover it fine but then I felt a tap and after that I don’t know what happened, I just ended up hitting the barriers. Obviously, it was race over from that point and that was hard to take. But that’s racing, I need to look forward to Donington now.”

He added: “I can’t wait to race with such a big crowd there (100,000-plus spectators are expected for the 10th round of the ELF Renault Clio Cup in three week’s time). I want to be back on a high there, I was on a high after Snetterton where I scored my best result but this weekend has put my feet back on the ground that’s for sure!”

Andrew will be back in action on 8th/9th September at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit for the 10th round of the ELF Renault Clio Cup. However his first experience of the world famous layout will come on Wednesday, 5th September, during official pre-event testing.

Rather than in its regular support slot on the British Touring Car Championship package, the Donington event will see the Clio Cup racing alongside the pan-European World Series by Renault category for its annual UK visit. By far the biggest race meeting of Andrew’s career, over 100,000 spectators are expected to attend during the weekend.

HERRON FLIES AT DONINGTON WITH AWESOME PERFORMANCE

JHR Developments racer Andrew Herron served up a masterclass in the art of overtaking during round six of the ELF Renault Clio Cup at Donington Park National Circuit today, Sunday, 15th July, achieving an incredible ninth place to match his previous best result of the year after being forced to start a lowly 27th on the grid. 

The 19-year-old category rookie, from Dromore in Northern Ireland, impressed from the first minute of testing at the 1.96-mile Leicestershire venue on Thursday and although Saturday’s qualification race turned out unfavourably, the committed and rapid teenager wasn’t deterred and had his sights set on producing the drive of his life this afternoon. 

With the race timetable affected due to several downpours which made track conditions less than ideal, the Clio Cup feature race was delayed from its lunchtime slot until after the third and final Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race of the day but when the event did get underway, Andrew ensured maximum entertainment value. 

Just two laps into the race, Andrew had climbed nine places up the order and with some spirited driving he duly made his way into the top 16 midway through lap three. By the eighth tour he was incredibly as high as 12th position but still the Co. Down sensation wasn’t finished and some consistently quick laps saw him rapidly reel in the top 10. 

Three laps from the end, the Brian Herron Contracts-backed star was into 10th place but still there was more to come and on the final lap he passed Robert Brown to seize ninth position and 12 very hard-earned championship points to continue his run of being one of just eight drivers to score points in every single feature race so far this season. 

Looking back on what is undoubtedly his best ever performance in a Clio with a truly spell-binding effort, Andrew commented: “Building up to this weekend we’ve been on the pace everywhere and then at Donington on Thursday we were quick again. It’s frustrating we had so many problems in the qualification race and to then start in 27th place for the points-scoring race made me just want to go for it. I knew I had to pass people quickly, I couldn’t get boxed-in behind cars and so I was determined to overtake as soon as possible. My tracking got knocked out at one point but we still managed to have good pace and continue moving forward. I’m really pleased with the result, I didn’t expect it after Saturday and I’m equally delighted for the team, Steven (Hunter - JHR team boss) and the boys did a great job this weekend.” 

Delighted to produce such a fantastic showing, the bittersweet nature of motor racing though did leave both Andrew and his JHR team wondering what might have been had he started the feature race from inside the top six. 

“During the qualifying session on Saturday my gear connector went so we’ve no doubt we would have been on pole position for our Heat had it not been for that problem. Third was still great but pole would obviously have been much better!” 

The aim now for Andrew is to keep the ball rolling and the momentum swinging in his favour so he heads to official testing at Snetterton Circuit this Thursday, 19th July, aiming for even greater performances. The Norfolk venue will host round seven of the Clio Cup on 28th/29th July. 

“We’re on a roll now, I feel very confident and I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t go well on Thursday and then score more good points during the race meeting at Snetterton in a couple of weeks. I’m really looking forward to it.”