UK ELF Clio Cup 2008 at Oulton Park – ROUND 15+16
RACE driver, Niki Lanik, was out at Cheshire’s race circuit, Oulton Park, for Round 15 + 16 of the 2008 Clio Cup. The double Clio Winter Cup champion had not raced at Oulton Park before and had to make most of pre-race testing. After a difficult time learning the track, the Human Rights racer was able to qualify the Miracle Drywash race car 12th and 8th for the two rounds, being 0.646 off pole position out of twenty six competitors. Lanik stormed forward in both races finishing 7th and 4th place.
LANIK struggled in testing by having to learn a track he has never raced before. Oulton Park is a technical 2.23 mile racing circuit with a lap being over a minute and a half. Niki was 11th fastest and 1.449 off pole in the first test session, and 9th fastest and 0.666 off pole in the second session. The team and 21-year old Niki were satisfied. “It’s a great track, and certainly I still have a lot of corners to perfect. I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow’s qualifying session” commented Niki on his test pace.
ON Saturday morning qualifying went well. Lanik qualified 12th and 8th for the two races. Having used two sets of tyres in qualifying, each having a different tyre pressures to attempt to solve the excessive understeering, Niki was a bit uncomfortable with the car’s handling, but this problem could not be handled. In fact, most other drivers had the same problem, and it was said to be the extremely high track temperatures.
RACE 1 started on Saturday afternoon, were the Miracle Drywash-sponsored race driver started 12th. After overtaking a few other drivers, and letting some drivers take each other out in front, Niki cruised away to a comfortable 7th position, which the team and he were most pleased about.
SUNDAY’S race took place in the early afternoon on Sunday with temperatures reaching the high twenties. The Austrian started 8th on the grid making an average start and retaining his position by the first corner. After an eventful first lap Niki was able to tag onto Osborne and Bradley. A few laps later Osborne ran wide which allowed Lanik to close the gap to Bradley and Robinson. Another driver in front retired promoting Lanik to 5th place. On the last lap of 14 racing laps, Robinson in 3rd place made a slight error and allowed Bradley and Lanik close up and fight it out for 3rd position. Niki passed Bradley into the Knickerbrook chicane but was unable to catch Robinson who had pulled 0.5 seconds ahead to take the podium. “This was a fantastic race. I am extremely happy to be able to come from 8th on the grid to finish 4th, especially at a track I hadn’t raced before. I hope I was able to entertain the crowd and all the live TV viewers. I’m definitely looking forward to racing here next season.” commented Lanik.
THE humanitarian and award-winning race driver, Niki Lanik, and the Youth For Human Rights Miracle Drywash Race Team promote the Youth For Human Rights campaign to millions per year. Would you like to sponsor this cause? Please contact Niki Lanik on niki.lanik@gmail.com.
ROUNDS 17 +18 will take place at Silverstone’s National race track on 30/31 August. For more information visit www.NikiLanik.com.
HIGH RESOLUTION (AND COPYRIGHT FREE) PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON: HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/Y4HR-RACING-TEAM/
VIDEO OF Oulton Park’s Round 16:
Part 1: http://www.renaulttv.co.uk/racecar/elfrenaultcliocup/index46.htm
Part 2: http://www.renaulttv.co.uk/racecar/elfrenaultcliocup/index47.htm
Part 3: http://www.renaulttv.co.uk/racecar/elfrenaultcliocup/index48.htm
