The 19 year-old Austrian racing driver, Niki Lanik, who lives in Ashurst Wood, made his debut in the junior touring car class, the ELF Renault Clio Cup, this weekend at Donington Park racing circuit, with his lap time only being 0.001 seconds slower than the championship leader! The Clio Cup supported the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) on that weekend, which meant 10,000 spectators and live TV coverage on SKY’s Motors TV (channel #413).

Niki’s qualifying went very well on Saturday morning, running in 3rd place for a few laps, which made the crowds attention grow, not only because of his lap times, but also because of the car’s “Drive 4 Life – be drug-free” livery. The Austrian driver managed to get himself into 9th position on the grid for both of the two races, only being 0.584 seconds slower than Tom Onslow-Cole, who secured pole position for both races and is the current championship leader. After analysing some data which was recorded through out the qualifying session, it was found that Niki made a driver mistake on his fastest qualifying lap, which cost him 2nd place on the grid!

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YOUNG Niki Lanik, 19, just signed up with Stancombe Vehicle Engineering to race in the ELF Renault Clio Cup. This junior touring car championship runs on the same day as the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship). www.cliocup.co.uk

Last Thursday and Friday at Snetterton racing circuit Niki Lanik intensively tested a left-hand drive Renault Clio Cup car for his first time. These cars are faster and much more challenging to drive then Niki’s last year’s Stock Hatch race car. The Clio race car, built by Renaultsport France, is running 190+ horsepower and slick tyres. “To drive the Clio to the limit you got to really drive aggressive! You just flick it in the corner and go full on the accelerator!” exclaimed Niki after his first of the two test days. Colin Stancombe, team manager, was very happy to see the test day go well. “Niki was setting very good lap times!” said Stancombe, “I’m very happy he joined the team!”

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