Run of bad luck for racer
Rivals and rain team up to wreck Streather’s results
HINCKLEY racer Paul Streather endured a miserable weekend at Rockingham International Super Sportscar Circuit.
The Finesse Motorsport driver suffered a series of on-track issues, ranging from weather to other drivers, leading him to lower finishes than he is used to. To compound a tough two days, high winds on Saturday caused another team’s awning to be swept into the air, landing on the team’s race transporter and causing damage to the cab unit.
The weekend actually started quite well for Streather, finishing in the top-five for pace in the pre-event practice.
In qualifying on Saturday morning, the times were incredibly close and, despite being just half a second away from pole, Streather had to settle for ninth on the grid.
However, torrential rain on Saturday afternoon, coupled with warm temperatures, resulted in a badly misted windscreen in the opening lap of race one and, following a costly pit-stop to clear the problem, resulted in an uncharacteristic 14th position.
In the televised second race, he was bundled of the track at Chapman Curve on lap one as a multi-car collision to his right resulted in a car rolling in his path and forcing him off the track across the grass.
After a pit-stop, Streather’s damaged Clio rejoined the race a lap down on the leaders and he ultimately finished in 15th position, picking up a handful of points in the process.
Reflecting on a disappointing weekend, he said: “It’s been a worse weekend than when I had my illness at Oulton Park! I don’t even know what happened out there in race two. “I knew there was someone of the inside so I left room but then, the next thing I know, I was hit out across the grass. It knocked all the steering out, the damage slowed us in a straight line too. “Obviously Saturday wasn’t any better for us, I couldn’t see a thing through the windscreen on the first lap and even though we cleared it after the pit stop it came back later on. It’s definitely been a weekend to forget.” Neil Giddings, Finesse Sports team principal, added: “It’s really frustrat- ing the way everything turned out for us in the races as Paul proved his pace and how quick the car was in testing on Friday. You couldn’t really make it up to be honest, it’s been a bit of a nightmare but we’ll be back and aiming for the podium at Silverstone in three weeks.”
The result leaves Streather sitting in sixth in the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Driver standings, while Finesse Motorsport are also in sixth in the 2016 Renault UK Clio Cup Entrants’ Trophy.
Next on the schedule in a trip to Northamptonshire to race at Silverstone National Circuit over the weekend of September 17 and 18.