“Lanik’s panic in crash drama”

“Ashurst Wood racer Niki Lanik ended his 2007 Clio Cup Championship race on Saturday in a crash involving Lanik and four other leading drivers.”

“Lanik then challenged thrid- and fourth-placed Ben Winrow and Paul Rivett three laps before the end before his steering suddenly went light. The two other drivers encountered the same phenomenon, as Lanik retained no control whatsoever, sliding off the track and hitting the crashed cars of the first- and second-placed racers, …”

“The 2006 champ added: ‘It was a tough season. All top 10 drivers have won the Clio Cup before or other championships, ranging from Madzda MX5 to Formula 3. I’ve beaten most of them in races, but not all of them at once in one race. The team and I will be up there in the top five in the majority of races in 2008’s championsip.’ ”

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“NIKI Lanik had a disappointing end to his season in the Clio Cup Championship at Thruxton where he only finished one of the two final races in the series.”

“The 20-year-old, driving the Youth 4 Human Rights Racing Team car, was involved in a multi-car pile up in the first race while challenging for a podium place, and in the second was tapped off the track, finishing 20th.”

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“Niki Lanik talked exclusively to Sean McGreevy about his racing career, his work with Human Rights and extreme sports.”

“Niki Lanik was born in Vienna, Austria in 1987 but now resides in Sussex. He races in the ELF Renault Clio Cup Championship for the Youth 4 Human Rights with Stancombe Vehicle Engineering Team and is the 2006 ELF Clio Winter Cup Champion. ”

“Niki chose the ELF Renault Clio Cup Championship because it is seen as a key stepping-stone to touring car and GT racing, with star graduates including British GT Champion Adnrew Kirkaldy, British Touring Car Championship star Jason Plato, and twice World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx.”

“Youth For Human Rights International promotes and works with the race team and Niki explained the background: ‘Their aim is to make people around the world aware of their 30 Human Rights and the organisation has put together an online video and campaign which has proved to be a great opportunity to raise the profile of the cause with all age groups. At the recent Renault World Series race meeting at Donington we showed the 30 Rights, 30 Ads Human Rights DVDs and handed out ‘Know your Human Rights’ booklets.’”

“Motor racing is a very physical sport so away from the race track Niki keeps fit by being an avid extreme sports fan: ‘In the winter I like to go to Austria or Switzerland and go snowboarding and in the UK I like to go mountain biking. I am not a person who goes to the gym every day but I enjoy any activity to do with speed or risking your life!’”

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NIKI Lanik and the Youth 4 Human Rights Racing Team, supporting the worthy cause of Human Rights, raced at Thruxton last weekend qualifying 8th and 4th for the final 2 rounds of the 2007 Clio Cup Championship. Saturday’s race was ended due to a crash involving Niki Lanik and four other top drivers – they all walked away un-hurt but shocked. The weekend was action packed with LIVE Sky coverage, ITV Sport shooting teams, and 25,000+ motorsport enthusiasts, all accompanied by perfect weather.

Thruxton, the Hampshire-based racing circuit, is famous for being the fastest circuit in Britain. Niki Lanik’s Clio race car averages 100mph per lap, reaching a mere 140mph on the long straight. The Austrian race driver, Lanik, was looking very good in the 30-minute qualifying session, setting two good laps earning him 8th and 4th on the grid out of well over 30 keen racing drivers. To add some more fun to motor racing a friend helped the team out and brought over some grid girls from a professional touring car racing team. Paige & Tillie, both British models, come to all the Clio Cup race meetings. “They were awesome! This is one of the things many motorsport enthusiasts love. They love the competition, they love the racing and the crashes, but they also love all the grid girls!” Niki said proudly.

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