For the last meeting of the year the2004 ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup visits Donington Park in the East Midlands. There are three possible candidates who could take the championship, Ed Pead, Paul Rivett or Jonathon Adam. All three will be pushing very hard, expect some exciting racing.

Saturday’s qualifying turned into a survival of the fittest, as the drivers were set to start qualifying the heavens opened and torrential rain was the order of the day. Ed Pead headed the times from the off and at half distance began to slip down the order. Paul Rivett had come in on the first lap with his windscreen misted up but once he got going snatched pole towards the end of the session. Pead meanwhile stayed out and began to creep back up the order to end up in fifth spot while Jonathon Adam had a disastrous qualifying with tenth place and seventeenth for the second race. Pead said “I could only see out of my side of the windscreen and was driving blind into some of the corners. I was in two minds to come in but I think the problem wasn’t bad enough to warrant a pit stop.”

As the sun began to shine through the track was drying very quickly so Round 19 would start with a wet track and dry racing line, a recipe for chaos for the Clios. Pead was more determined than ever to get to the front, as he knew he had to beat Rivett in this race to keep his championship hopes alive. Pead made a good start and slotted into fourth spot on the exit of the first corner, it was all fraught at the front and in the melee Pead slipped back one place to fifth at the exit of the Old Hairpin. Rivett lost the lead to a fast charging Richard Williams and on lap three Matt Allison and Michael Simpson both flew wide at the notorious Old Hairpin corner allowing Pead into third spot. It took Pead five laps to catch the leading pair after putting in a series of fastest laps, Rivett sensed Pead was on the case and began to push Williams for the lead. It paid off and Williams made a mistake at Coppice allowing Rivett to slip up the inside and take the lead into the chicane. Pead started to hound Williams and into the first corner for the last lap Williams slid sideways and Pead got side by side heading down to the Craner Curves. Pead on the dry line and Williams on the wet it was Pead that had to give in to avoid both drivers going off. This let Rivett get away and as he took the win he took the 2004 ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup Championship aswell. Pead commented “It was a very good race and I gave it everything I had, I’m disappointed on missing out as I led the championship for 90% of the season.”

Round 20 would see Rivett on pole, Pead in sixth and Adam start in seventh. Pead is now three points behind Adam and needs to finish two places ahead to become vice champion. Rivett got away well with Matt Allison on his tail, Pead made a good start and slotted in behind Simpson. On lap two Pead made his way past Simpson at Macleans and on the charge for Williams. As Williams caught Allison they began to fight and the former slip-streamed his way past with Pead in tow. As Williams pulled in front of Allison, Pead shot down the inside to take second place. Pead managed to pull a slight gap and as Allison got past Williams he then began to chase down Pead. The pair raced together swapping places all race long but it was Allison who finished second with Pead third. Pead said after the race “I had a great race with Matt, it was unfortunate that Rivett got away as we were fighting. I feel a little better to finish second in the championship but first is what I really wanted. I’m now looking to move upwards into Touring Cars, I have a few tests coming up so we’ll see what happens over the next few months. I’d like to thank Mardi Gras Motorsport for the car they have given me this year, their support has been fantastic, thank you”

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