Following their top 10 at Oulton Park last time out, hopes were high for another positive result for the RAW Fun Cup team in the five hours at Croft.Alex Macleod also had a new co-driver as four time Renault Clio UK Cup Champion Paul Rivett joined him.Although qualifying is not for grid positions in this championship, the whole team took a boost when Rivett’s lap time was the quickest of all 25 cars. “I hadn’t sat in the car until testing the previous day, so was very surprised to be quickest of all,” he said. In the draw for the starting grid they initially drew 20th, but moved up a few places when some cars received post qualifying penalties. Macleod was in for the opening stint and was planning to focus on looking after the car, avoiding any contact, which did mean sacrificing some pace.
“It was going Ok and I had passed one of the TFL cars and was closing in to challenge JPR Alpha. Then the engine started to go fluffy and as I exited the Hairpin it popped and banged and cut out on me, “he explained after only seven laps had been completed.The cars was recovered and he crew worked feverishly to get back on track. “The team did a remarkable job to get us out again and the car felt really good, so it was really good seat time and experience for me,” added Macleod.“I got in and the paddle shift failed after 20 minutes, just how some things go sometimes. I even changed out of my race suit to help with the engine change, but don’t think I was much help. Looking forward the next round at Zandvoort though, now I have tried the car,” Rivett concluded.