With the hottest race of the year so far at Croft for the 2003 ELF CLIO RENAULTsport UK CUP, it was going to be a tough round for the top six with pole sitter Buxton ahead by eight tenths and only one tenth covering the second to sixth places on the grid.

Starting fourth on the grid Pead was on the outside of the first corner, he maintained his position and got a good run through the notorious chicane leading on to the back straight to pass former champion Danny Buxton for third. Pead was now on the heels of Silverstone winner Eoin Murray and attempted to pass him into the complex. Both made contact but stayed on and Pead was forced wide to allow Paul Maguire through to third. On the following lap Pead had passed Maguire and was now battling with Jonathon Fildes for third. Fildes slipped passed at the complex and then contact into Sunny In with Buxton left Pead in fifth place.

It wasn’t long before Pead was fighting his way back up the order, Buxton took too much speed into Sunny In and was grass tracking on the exit, this allowed Pead back through and chasing down the top three. By half distance Buxton was on terms with Pead and a desperate move into the first corner pushed Pead into a spin and across the grass and then straight into a battle for fifth place. Pead chased down Buxton who then visited the gravel trap at the first corner allowing Pead back through to fourth position where he finished.

Afterwards Pead said, “It was a very messy race today with people coming off all round the track. I was battling hard with Buxton and I lost ground to the top three but was pleased to finish fourth and not in the barrier.”

The Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup next joins the DTM, Super Touring Car Championship at Donington Park on 26 – 27 July 2003.

 

.