UK ELF Clio Cup 2007 at Oulton Park – ROUND 5
ASHURST Wood race driver, 20 year-old Niki Lanik, walks away unharmed from a massive 70mph crash last weekend at Cheshire’s racing circuit, Oulton Park. The team’s 205 horsepower Renault Clio Cup race car’s steering rod snapped on the first corner of the first lap, 5 hours after having qualified in 3rd place, 0.332 seconds off pole position. This incident, having had no impact or other explanation, is under serious investigation by several engineers and Renaultsport representatives. The current conclusion is that it was miss-manufactured part. “I will need to talk to Renaultsport UK, as they cannot expect me to pay all the damage and pay for all the weekends engineering, and having lost out on a potential podium finish. If it really is what the engineers say, then it is definitely Renaultsport UK’s fault.” Niki said to the press, “If Renaultsport UK ignores this, or doesn’t want to make up the damage, the team and I will consider leaving the championship for 2007 and sue Renaultsport UK.” Renaultsport UK has already had several safety issues with the current race car, and even the road version too.
Another Clio Cup driver, Bradley, encountered nearly exactly the same problem in the other race, also having hit the barrier due to a broken steering component. Due to this, Lanik and Bradley were both unable to attend Sunday’s championship Round, leaving them with no championship points. “The majority of drivers in the 2007 Clio Cup are unhappy with the way the championship is managed since the beginning of the season. All drivers are getting less test time, shorter qualifying sessions, extremely short races, which are very often cut short to 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes, ridiculously low prize money, and so on. Not mentioning the unnecessary test ban before the season had started – again due to a miss-manufactured part from Renault.” Niki argued with back-up from nearly all drivers. Renaultsport sold the registration fees as a 20 Round championship, and now it is only a 10 Round championship, leading to many disappointed drivers and even spectators.
Scottish John Cleland, double British Touring Car Champion and current team manager of Cleland Motorsport team in the Clio Cup, argued with championship manager, Simon North, on how Renaultsport UK needs to address and handle these problems, and create a championship were all drivers and teams are getting for what they paid for. Cleland, having raced and helped win the manufacturer’s title for Vauxhall, also is one of a few individuals considering to leave the championship and bring forward his lawyers. “If the championship continues being miss-managed as it is, there will be no doubt that the championship will have a lack of registrations next season!” John Cleland angrily said this to Renaultsport UK. 90% of drivers in the championship wanted a change to happen in the championship, but there was none to come from the Clio Cup’s championship manager, Simon North.
The Austrian race driver’s weekend started very well, being 7th and 3rd quickest in testing on Friday’s short test sessions. Having tried a slightly different car set-up, and receiving sufficient driver coaching from double Clio Cup champion, Paul Rivett, Niki easily qualified 3rd quickest. “I know, looking back at the laps I drove and the data stored on the race car’s data acquisition computer, I could have gone even quicker.” The Miracle Drywash sponsored driver said enthusiastically. Starting 3rd on the grid for the race, Niki was destined for a podium position. After two warm-up laps, all drivers aligned on the grid for the race start. Niki had a decent race start, slotting into 4th into the first right hander, avoiding contact. In the middle of the corner the Clio’s front left steering rod snapped, straightening the tyre which was making the car turn. As soon as that happened Niki felt the steering go very light, and as soon as he knew it he was directed towards the tyre wall at a nasty angle. “I managed to turn the car to a better angle so the impact wouldn’t hurt so much.” Niki remembered, having hit the tyre wall at 70mph, breaking his window, and severely damaging the left side of the Youth 4 Human Rights Clio Cup race car. After the crash was over Niki got out of the car and watched his car being towed away. “This could have happened to anyone. I guess that’s what people call experience.” Niki said in a reassuring state. “Somebody once told me that even the best race drivers have crashes. That’s just the way it goes.”
The Youth 4 Human Rights UK Car Racing Team - sponsored by Miracle Drywash, G&G Vitamins, Wealden Workwear and Luxury Sign Design - is next out at Donington Park on 14/15 July, once again supporting the British Touring Car Championship. The team will do well there without question. Niki Lanik had fastest lap there twice last year, and is very keen on setting the Clio on pole position. “We can do it! We’ve been slightly unlucky until now, but what we do know is that the speed is there. I’m nearly the there and so is the car. Donington, being my favourite circuit, I’m aiming to qualify well and have a really good race!” Niki said positively.
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.
