Renault Aftersales Racing driver Ed Pead collected more points, with fourth place, in yet another incident packed ELF Renault Clio Cup race in front of possibly the biggest audience of the year, estimated at over 70,000 people, as part of the World Series by Renault weekend at Donington Park in Derbyshire.

Ed was in optimistic mood following an impressive performance in his qualifying race, Pead in fourth (seventh overall on the grid) in his Ixell, Ixtar, Rapide Bodycare, RAMB, Renaultp@rts, Motrio and Renault Trade Partner-branded Clio 197.

The action started well before the red lights went out. Alex MacDowell spun on the parade lap and lined up at the back of the grid. The starting lights then failed, forcing the 38 drivers on another parade lap. At the third time of asking, and starting with the drop of a Union Flag, the field commenced its race - now shortened to 10 laps.

Pead made a lightning start to take his Mardi Gras Motorsport-prepared car up to sixth, and picked up two more places a lap later to run an impressive fourth.

He came agonisingly close to a coveted podium position in the closing laps, breathing down the neck of third placed Martin Byford and finishing just three-tenths of a second behind.

Northampton-based Pead set his fastest lap on the penultimate tour, testament to the pace he was finding in the car as the race went on.

He said: "I'm happy with fourth. The car was much quicker at the end. If we'd had those two extra laps of racing I'm sure we would have had a podium, but that's the way things go sometimes."

The final race meeting of the year for the ELF Renault Clio Cup drivers takes place on 13/14 October at Thruxton near Andover.

RESULTS

1. Paul Rivett JHR Developments 18.04.663
2. Stefan Hodgetts Momo UK +2.463s
3. Martin Byford Z Speed Racing +2.949s
4. Ed Pead Mardi Gras Motorsport +3.257s
5. Robert Lawson JHR Developments +6.377s
6. Philip House PH Motorsport +6.554s
7. Barry Benham Benham Motorsport +7.395s
8. Chris Dymond Robertshaw Racing +9.309s
9. Michael Doyle In Tune/Robertshaw Racing +9.727s
10. Andrew Herron JHR Developments +10.287s
15. Árón Smith Mardi Gras Motorsport +24.680s

Be sure to check out the other photos from this years' meetings in the Photo Gallery.