UK ELF Clio Cup 2007 at Croft – ROUND 4
NIKI Lanik, race driver of the Ashurst Wood-based Youth 4 Human Rights UK Car Racing Team, qualified in 3rd position in Round 4 of the ELF Clio Cup, Britain’s most competitive one-make series, last weekend at North Yorkshire’s famous race circuit, Croft - a challenging and high speed 2.1 mile car racing track. After having tested there 2 weeks prior to the event, Niki and the Y4HR team knew they could pull of a decent result.
“Qualifying started really well.” said Niki, “I went out on track with brand new slicks, and 2 laps later I was P1. I only had 6 laps, and I could only get around 5 hundredth quicker. Ed Pead [winner of Round 1] and Stefan Hodgetts [winner of Round 2 & 3] managed to snatch P1 and P2 off me, so I had to settle for 3rd.” Colin Stancombe, Lanik’s race engineer, pulled off a fantastic job in getting the car set-up perfect. Stancombe Vehicle Engineering has won 13 championships.
Starting 3rd on the grid for Race 1, the Miracle Drywash sponsored racer, Niki Lanik, got away clean next to Andrew Jordan, Round 1 podium finisher and son of race winning British touring car driver. Andrew and Niki made contact two laps later in the Hairpin were Niki damaged the tracking on his car. Niki then lost another place to Jim Edwards, 1990 and 2000 Clio Cup Champion. Niki then blocked for the remaining 6 laps, setting extremely consistent lap times which were no more than 0.2 seconds apart - the damaged slowed Niki down by 0.8 seconds per lap.
Having finished 5th in Race 1, this earned the 20 year-old racer 9th on the grid (out of 36 starters) in Race 2. Lanik got a decent start, falling to 10th by Hawthorne Bend, having gotten a hit from Mark Speller, 2003 Mini Champion, prior to turning in. Lanik lost one more place after being forced wide out of Tower Bend. On lap 5/12 Niki was forced to retire, due to contact with Herron, at this stage Lanik was back in 9th place. After the race, it turned out that Niki, even though having only completed 4 full laps, had secured 2nd fastest ideal lap. This was very good news, as it shows the car’s set-up and Niki, as a race driver, are able to finish on the podium if everything goes well.
Round 5 of the ELF Clio Cup will take place at Oulton Park supporting the British Touring Car Championship. “I haven’t raced at Oulton before, but after having learned so much at Croft, I’m sure we can qualify in the top 5 quite easily. It’s time for the team to finish on the podium where it deserves to be!”
The Y4HR UK Car Racing Team is now promoting itself in more championships ranging from a 911 Porsche in the Heritage GT championship, to an XR2 in the Stock Hatch championship, driven by race winning JJ Vannier, racer of the Narconon Race Team. As an exchange, the Y4HR team is now livered out with Narconon stickers on each side of the race Clio.
The Youth 4 Human Rights UK Car Racing Team promotes Human Rights and the “30 Rights, 30 Ads” DVD - more information on www.youthforhumanrights.org. “I love racing, and I love helping people. So for me this is the perfect opportunity to make the world a better place!” Niki always tells the interviewers and TV cameras. The Y4HR team has already won two awards, one being the “Ambassador of Peace” award presented by the Universal Peace Federation, the other being a “Human Rights Ambassador” presented by Mary Shuttleworth, director of Youth For Human Rights International. The race team is sponsored by Miracle Dry Wash (www.miracledrywash.com), G&G Vitamins (www.GandGvitamins.com), Luxury Sign Design (www.lsdsign.co.uk) and Wealden Workwear (www.wwpe.co.uk). For more information about the race team, log onto www.Y4HR.com or e-mail the team directly on Y4HR@vibrant.ms. This campaign is run under Vibrant Motorsports Limited - info@vibrant.ms.
