The Snetterton weekend of the Renault UK Clio Cup is not one that Paul Rivett will recall with fond memories.
But despite a disappointing event, the Tachosys-backed driver remains upbeat for the rest of the season.
Rivett headed into the Norfolk races on the back foot having been struck down with an illness that limited his participation in Friday testing.
“I’ve had a bug all week and have had no energy and not been able to do anything,” said Rivett. “I only managed four timed laps on Friday.”
But that didn’t prove too costly for the WDE Motorsport racer as he was still able to qualify third for the opening contest but timed his final lap of the session too late, missing the chance to improve on eighth place on the race two grid by just two seconds.
In the opener, Rivett fell back to seventh by the flag – but that was still ahead of his title rivals Max Coates and James Dorlin. However, race two was a disaster with the three-time champion getting caught up with Bradley Burns through Brundle and Nelson in an incident that dropped him to the rear of the field, with Rivett eventually finishing 19th.
“We had the chance to come here and win two races,” said Rivett. “But this is racing and it’s not all over yet. If you take away all the bad luck we’ve had so far, we would be unstoppable!”
Despite the tough weekend, Rivett remains second in the points, 27 behind Coates.
The next rounds of the Clio Cup take place at Rockingham on August 11/12.