UK ELF Clio Cup 2007 at Donington – ROUND 10
NIKI Lanik, reigning 2006 Clio Cup Winter Champion, and the Youth 4 Human Rights UK Car Racing Team supported the Renault World Series last weekend at Donington Park in Derbyshire. The youngster was the first ever Austrian to secure pole position in the UK ELF Clio Cup. The event attracted over 130,000 live spectators over the weekend and was broadcasted live around the globe, making this one of Britain’s largest and most successful motorsport events of 2007.
Wednesday’s test day went very well for Lanik, being 5th quickest out of 38 Clio racers. “It’s always good to be quick on test days, especially when I set good times on old rubber.” commented the young Ashurst Wood race driver, “Qualifying should go well once I’m on brand new slick tyres!” Colin Stancombe, chief engineer and team owner of Stancombe Vehicle Engineering [Niki’s engineering team] was extremely impressed with the young racer’s driving.
Saturday started off well, with 55,000 enthusiasts turning up from 7:30am onwards to watch the morning qualifying session. 20 year-old Lanik went out with brand new slicks, and getting in 8 laps in his 15 minute session. Niki set his fastest lap on lap 4 – a 1:46.3 – 0.7 seconds quicker than 2nd place qualifier, Doyle. “It was a perfect lap. I made no mistakes and the balance of the car was just right!” This was Lanik’s first pole position of the 2007 season.
This immediately grabbed the attention of other qualifiers and the timekeepers. After a 4 hour investigation Lanik was demoted to 10th place on the grid, due to what was considered a “faulty timing beacon”, and thus Lanik’s 2nd best lap was taken to determine his starting position for Saturday’s race.
Keeping the spirits high after the disappointing qualifying results, Lanik had a great start to Saturday’s race charging from 10th to 7th by the time the field of Clios reached the chicane. Niki got a bump from behind causing him to oversteer and loose 9 places. Niki then charged back up the field to finish 11th place, with a bent steering rod loosing him 2 seconds a lap.
With 75,000 spectators turning up for Sunday’s race day, this offered excellent exposure for young Lanik, the Youth 4 Human Rights UK Car Racing Team, and their main sponsor, Miracle Drywash – www.MiracleDrywash.com. Niki started in 21st position out of 38 starters. Faulty start lights delayed the start of the race, which took place in front of the massive crowd around noon time. After 3 green flag laps the race was started with a Union Jack flag. The Ashurst Wood racer had a fantastic start slotting into 15th place after Redgate corner. Niki then challenged Jonathan Fildes (2003 Clio Champion), Jim Edwards Jnr (2000 Clio Champion) and Ben Winrow (2007 podium and race winner). The four of them were driving inches from each other with clean overtaking manoeuvres passing each other back and forth lap by lap. This grabbed the attention of the huge crowd and the live TV cameras – Niki was mentioned numerous of times. Suddenly, out of the blue, Niki’s radiator blew forcing him to retire.
“It was an insane weekend! From pole position to 10th on the grid, being knocked off the track, then charging through the field, and so on. I’m really happy about having a great dice with the two previous Clio Champions though. It shows that I’m up for the challenge! I just have to get everything perfect on one weekend, and unfortunately that’s much easier said than done!”
The race will be shown on ITV’s Motorsport UK on 11th November around midnight with an average TV audience of 1,000,000 viewers just in the UK itself.
“It was also great as we showed the “30 Rights, 30 Ads” Human Rights DVDs, and gave out “Know your Human Rights” booklets. This attracted even more attention, so I gave out a bunch of race team caps and LOADS of autographs! One guy even asked me if he could have my damaged rear bumper with my autograph on it!? The fans are great!” Niki mentioned.
The Youth 4 Human Rights UK Race Team and Niki Lanik will be taking part in the last round of the season on 13th & 14th October at Thruxton, supporting the British Touring Cars at their final 3 rounds of the season. 30,000+ spectators are expected at Britain’s fastest race circuit. The team is now selling advertisement space for the 2007 Winter Champion, which Niki is planning to secure for the 2nd year in a row. If you would like to find out more about the team or Niki Lanik, log onto www.Y4HR.com or www.NikiLanik.com, or send an e-mail to Y4HR@vibrant.ms or niki@lanik.info. The team promotes the worthy cause of Human Rights, and is sponsored by Miracle Drywash, G&G Vitamins, Wealden Workwear and Luxury Sign Design – local-based companies. If you’d like to sponsor or advertise for the 2007 Winter Championship or the 2008 season e-mail Vibrant Motorsports Limited on info@vibrant.ms.
“I’d like to thank my sponsors for the help they have given the team this season! Nevertheless, the team needs more sponsors and contributors to promote Human Rights to a greater exent. The majority of my sponsors come and support me at most races, and even though they aren’t race freaks, they absolutely love the excitement and the fact that their company logos are on the Youth 4 Human Rights Clio Cup race car!” Niki said, “I’d also like to thank my engineering team, Stancombe Vehicle Engineering, for offering me a place in their successful and well known team.”
