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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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Check out Kieren’s website www.kierenclark.com as the build up to Brands Hatch will launch a fantastic prize to win a drive in a race car. Rounds 8 and 9 will be at the Brands Hatch in Kent on August the 22nd and 23rd, we hope to see you there. To support Kieren doesn’t cost as much as you would think and there are some great opportunities to use this as a platform to get your business or favourite charity noticed. You could be working with Kieren and sharing in his success. Contact us at info@3ksracing.co.uk This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to find out more about the opportunities to get involved in motorsport, or visit to see how we can work to achieve your organisation’s business objectives, and support Kieren onto the next step.
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mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk Kieren Clark's 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship Clark is crowned Champion
Starting on pole for round 10 of the championship, with Zamparelli on the outside in second, Kieren didn’t make the best of starts, but kept a nose ahead to reach the first corner after the sweeping banked section with track position. Leading the pack through, with Zamparelli on his gearbox, there was no room for error. Managing to pull a small margin clear, Kieren held his lead until on lap 8 of the 14 lap race, when an incident caused the safety car to be deployed for just 1 lap to bunch everyone up. A well judged restart saw Kieren pull a cars length ahead as they crossed the start line, extending to a 2 second lead at the end of the race. A jubilant Kieren put his success down to watching videos of restarts from last years Rockingham Renault races. As the championship stood, Kieren now only needed to finish 14th in the next race of the day to win the championship, still with 2 rounds left in the season. Having qualified 2nd for race number 2, behind Zamparelli, Kieren made a lightening start to pull ahead of the pole sitter, but as they both headed for the inside line of the banked track, contact caused Kieren’s rear tyre to puncture, spinning him off to the back of the pack. Unable to continue back to the pits, Kieren had to retire. Zamparelli didn’t come off any better, and with his nose cone wedged under his front wheel, he also had to retire, handing the championship title to Kieren. “That was really unfortunate,” reflected Kieren, “I had an absolutely mint start, and was pulling ahead, but we were both going for the same piece of track. I really wanted to win the championship crossing the finishing line, to give something back for the team.” “We’ve won the championship, with 2 races still left, so I’ve got a big thank you for Apotex Scorpio team who made this season possible, now we are off to celebrate!”
Clark’s peerless performance at Brands Hatch
Victory in the first of the days races was sweetened with a team one–two as Joe Crook, Kieren’s team-mate finished in a well deserved second place. Having qualified for both pole positions in the previous days sessions, the Palmersport’s Bedford instructor drove the two races faultlessly, from the moment the lights went out, to end both races more than 10 seconds clear of his nearest rivals over the two 25 lap races, and gaining 2 fastest laps in the process. KC said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend for me, and for the team, and great to see Joe alongside me on the podium for the first race. Although it might have looked easy, I had to keep pushing in both races as I know how quick the others, especially Dino (Zamparelli), can be. I was a little concerned my tyres might start to fade in the heat but they held together well in the end. Another good effort from the team to get the cars running spot in. I think I’ve increasing my lead in the points table over Dino as well, so its all good. 2 weeks for the next rounds at Rockingham, I’m ready to go, I cant wait!”
Clark pulls ahead in championship at Donington
So with everything to do at the start, Clark launched himself away as the red lights went out for the first race to tuck behind the poleman Zamparelli into Redgate. Behind Kieren, 5th place man de Graff had a very enthusiastic start which earned him a drive through penalty, but gaining the extra momentum, put him alongside Kieren into the first corner and while Clark was defending his line, Zamparelli managed to creep ahead. Pulling clear of the pack behind the first place man, Clark was too far back to challenge Zamparelli for the lead, but took 0,6 seconds out of the circuit lap record as he tried to close the gap. With 4 laps to go, an incident further back in the pack brought out the safety car. At the restart, both leaders made a good break but Kieren had to settle for second place as Zamparelli celebrated his first win in the championship to dent Kieren’s unbroken string of wins this season. The second race of the day, saw the same top 3 starting grid, and this was the order into Redgate for the first lap. As Kieren was chasing Parris in second, Zamparelli managed to put clear space between them, while Kieren tried to close the 0,2 second gap. Not getting past meant that 4th place man Mulholland was a constant threat, not helped by a safety car which bunched them all back up. The following laps, Kieren was setting his move up on Parrish along the main straight but a stranded car at Redgate brought out the yellow flags, and no overtaking! With 3 laps of frustration at not being able to put the move into practise, Mulholland closed up on the pair, and a challenge by KC on Parris coming out of the hairpin with 2 laps to go allowed Mulholland to squeeze past into 3rd. This left Kieren a frustrated 4th place and as he reflected on his first race this season not on the top step of the podium, “We have come away an extra 12 points in the lead, so I’m now 62 points clear in the championship, a great effort by the Scorpio team. Now the focus is on Brands next, only 2 weeks to go, I cant wait.”
PERFECT SEASON CONTINUES AT CROFT WITH WINS FOUR & FIVE
Continuing his unbeaten run of victories since the start of the campaign at Oulton Park back in May, the Apotex Scorpio Motorsport sensation scorched to 10-second winning margins in both Croft races to open up a phenomenal 50-point lead over the chasing pack at the top of the championship. Nobody had an answer for Kieren’s stunning qualifying pace on Saturday, 11th July, which enabled him to secure pole position for rounds four and five with laps of 1m20.690 seconds (94.80mph) and 1m20.796 seconds (94.68mph) respectively. At the start of the weekend’s first 14-lap race earlier today, Sunday, 12th July, which began on a partially damp track, Kieren made a good getaway to lead into Clervaux for the first time and he was never headed as he reeled off fastest lap after fastest lap – his best of the race a time of 1m21.455 seconds (93.91mph). In round five, the talented Cambridgeshire driver produced a carbon-copy performance with a great start followed by another lights-to-flag show of dominance. Yet again pumping in fastest lap pace, Kieren’s best time was a lap of 1m21.462 seconds (93.91mph), underlining his remarkable consistency. Speaking on his flawless season so far, Kieren said: “All five wins, all five fastest laps, all five poles – I’m happy with that! It’s a shame I didn’t get the lap record but, still, I don’t mind as we’ve won both races this weekend to keep the run intact and we’re leading the championship by an even bigger margin. “The car was brilliant again this weekend, the guys at Apotex Scorpio keep doing a fantastic job and I really can’t fault them. Donington is next up for us in August and we’ll be aiming to continue our good run there. It’s a nice, fast, flowing circuit so we should hopefully have the upper hand.”
Clean sweep for Clark at Snetterton
With 2 poles, 2 fastest lap, 2 dominant victories, and the circuit lap record, the weekend belonged to Kieren Clark. The lights to flag victories were not even hampered by the safety car which appeared in both rounds taking awayClark’s early lead. Round 2 of the championship saw Kieren qualifying 0.3secs ahead of Don De Graaff to take pole position. Following a good start, Clark led into the first corner ahead of the chasing pack, with the next 3 fighting for position. As he pulled away from the pack, the safety car was deployed after an incident further down the grid allowing everyone to bunch up over the next 3 laps. Another good getaway at the restart enabled Clarko pull away from the pack at a steady pace to finish the race 8.6 seconds ahead of second place, breaking the previous track lap record by 0.2secs. A delighted KC commented “I got a good start to keep Don (De Graaff) behind, but then the safety car came out, so I was concentrating on the restart. After that I kept pulling away, I think the scrabble for position behind me kept them all busy, so I concentrated on qualifying pace. Its great to get the lap record to add the Oulton Park lap record from the first round.” The grid for round 3 was forming up just as a light drizzle started. A good get away saw KC ahead of Brett Paris in the first corner, and had pulled 2 car lengths gap as the cars streamed towards the end of the first lap, only for the safety car to come out to clear a car stranded on the track. 3 laps of the safety car saw Brett glued to the tail of Kieren, but by the end of the straight at the restart, Kieren had pulled a car lengths gap. Steady driving saw the gap increase as the race went on, with KC seemingly not putting a foot wrong to win by 4.1sec. An ecstatic KC said “what a great weekend, there wasn’t much I could improve on, even the safety car couldn’t stop me controlling the race. The lap record is great as well. The Apotex Scorpio team did a great job this weekend, as always, and the car was spot on. Our tyre strategy for qualifying paid off in the races.” “I wasn’t sure I would be out racing this weekend, it’s a hand to mouth existence so we are keen to talk to people and businesses who want to be part of our team, so we can make the next race in 2 weeks time at Croft. Its not much time to get something sorted out, but we will be working as hard as we can.” John Petit, from the Apotex Scorpio team commented, “another great weekend for Kieren, he didn’t let anything distract him from the job in hand and delivered. “ Lights to flag victory as Clark dominates at Oulton Park
As the lights went out for the start of the 15 lap race, the Cambridge based racer made a superb start to lead the field into Old Hall. By the first few laps, a solid lead had already developed over the rest of the field, and continuing to push, KC set the fastest lap of the race on lap 10 with a time of 1min 23.088s (96.44mph average), earning him two extra Championship points. The chequered flag belonged to Clark who crossed the line with a 5.458s lead, having totally dominated the race. Commenting after his win, a delighted KC said: “I got a fantastic start off the line although the first few laps were really tough with Dino [Zamparelli] pushing hard. I just concentrated on being consistent and managed to pull away and build a comfortable lead. Oulton Park is one of my favourite tracks and it’s great to come away with a win. The Apotex Scorpio team did a great job this weekend, the car was spot on.” So what next for the Cambridgeshire youngster? “We have set this weekend up with the backing of my sponsor, Taylex Exhibitions, but I’m really not sure what will happen for the rest of the season. It all comes down to money and we are actively looking for partners that can get me out on track for the rest of the season. This win has really fired me up, so I hope we can get something sorted. I’ve got a lot to offer my partners, more than just a sticker on our car, so I hope this can get me some exposure, and lead on to something exciting. ”
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Kieren
Clark was crowned 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion this
weekend at an action-packed Rockingham, with the Loughborough based
Apotex Scorpio Motorsport team. 
Kieren
Clark demonstrated his domination in the 2009 Protyre Formula Renault
BARC Championship at Brands Hatch for the 8th and 9th rounds of the
series this weekend, with 2 lights to flag victories for the
Loughborough based Apotex Scorpio Motorsport team.
Kieren
Clark had mixed results in 6th and 7th rounds of the 2009 Protyre
Formula Renault BARC Championship, at Donington Park. A 2nd and 4th
place results ensured PalmerSport’s Bedford instructor continued to pull
clear on the championship points table, and smashed the Donington’s lap
record in the process. Qualifying didn’t go as slickly as usual for the
Cambridge based racer, for both rounds Kieren could only manage 3rd
place behind Parris, missing second by a few thousands of a second for
both rounds didn’t help. 
Royston
20-year-old Kieren Clark utterly dominated the third race meeting of the
2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship at Croft Circuit in North
Yorkshire over the weekend, 11th/12th July, with a truly faultless
performance during rounds four and five of the season. 
Apotex
Scorpio Motorsport’s Kieren Clark dominated the 2nd and 3rd rounds of
the 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship at Snetterton circuit
in Norfolk. 
Apotex
Scorpio Motorsport’s Kieren Clark swept to victory in the opening round
of the 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship at Cheshire’s
Oulton Park Island circuit.