It was a weekend full of ups and downs for Paul Rivett at Rockingham as he lost second place in the Renault UK Clio Cup standings.
The three-time champion got off to a good start by qualifying second for the opening race – a strong result after a season blighted by failing to get a top grid slot.

But he was unable to fully capitalise on this after making a slow getaway and dropping to third. He was then overtaken by Jack McCarthy at Deene on lap three and the resulting contact hampered Rivett for the rest of the race as he came home fourth.

“I got a lot of wheelspin at the start and then it bogged down,” the WDE Motorsport driver explained. “But I was still in third when I made a little mistake at the hairpin and there was a bit of contact with Jack McCarthy and he got through. But my steering was at 45 degrees after that and I was trying to hang on to fourth and keep [James] Colburn and [Daniel] Rowbottom behind.”

paul rivett rockingham
For race two Rivett was only able to start eighth as he lost a qualifying lap good enough for second due to a track limits penalty.
He then got caught up in the first lap commotion and dropped to 15th. But in typical Rivett style, he soon set about climbing up the order and claimed seventh place with a move on Rowbottom at Brook.
“I tried something different off the line in race two which didn’t work,” he said. “It’s a shame the starts didn’t go to plan because I had the pace to win.”

The results mean Rivett is now third in the standings, falling behind team-mate Lee Pattison, and is 99 points behind leader Mike Bushell.
The next rounds of the Clio Cup take place at Silverstone on September 16-17. But Rivett’s next races come a week before that in a completely different sort of machinery as he will make his debut in the British Truck Racing Championship at Snetterton.

paul rivett rockingham