The last round of the BTCC championship at Brands Hatch this year also saw the final round of the 2014 Renualt Clio Cup as a support race, with rounds 17 and 18 of the championship being held. Veteran Clio racer Mike Bushell started the weekend as favourite for the championship after a double win at the previous Rockingham event, giving him a significant lead in the championship over his rivals.
The first Clio race of the weekend saw a shower of heavy rain as the drivers went out on their green flag lap, which was followed by a delay to allow a change to wet weather tyres. There was plenty of dramatic racing from the first lap, with Josh Cook quickly taking the lead, which he held to win the race, and give him a chance of catching Mike Bushell in the final race of the weekend, although that would require a second win by Cook in the final race of the series.
However, it was not to be for Cook, with a crash in Sunday’s race ending his hopes of winning both the race and the championship.
Bushell continued to push in the race, and saw plenty of close racing, including coming very close to Alex Morgan, which from where we were, looked like the cars were touching.
Paul Rivett had taken the lead on the first lap, and held it to the chequered flag, taking his only win of the season after four second places, despite Alex Morgan fighting for the position.
Mike Bushell took the championship, although it does not seem to have gone to his head. After the race, he said “I’ll go out and celebrate tonight but I’ve got ten MOTs to do in the morning at work – back to reality tomorrow!” Not all racing drivers live the high life….
