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Lanik clinches Clio Cup Winter title for the second year running

Lanik broke the record of winning two Clio Cup Winter Titles back to back, thanks to the team’s primary sponsor for the Winter Championship - Staden Grange Country House – www.StadenGrangeHotel.co.uk. The 2006 Winter Champion, Niki Lanik, came away last weekend with a 2nd place and a 1st place finish at Croft racing circuit in Yorkshire to become the 2007 Clio Cup Winter Champion, retaining last year’s title.

Coming into Round 3 & 4 of the 2007 Clio Cup Winter Championship at Croft, Austrian race driver, Niki Lanik, racing for the Youth 4 Human Rights with Stancombe Vehicle Engineering team, was leading the championship by a mere 9 points after having amazingly won both opening rounds at Donington Park from 4th and 7th on the grid.

Friday's test day saw 20-year old Lanik straight away on the pace, being 4th, 2nd and quickest in the three test session. Colin Stancombe, Niki’s chief race engineer, had found a major outpoint in the suspension set-up and after having fixed it the youngster was quickest in the last session of the day by more than a tenths, which in Clio terms is plenty. It was a bent damper from the 65mph crash at Thruxton’s Round 11 of the 2007 Summer Championship. The Youth 4 Human Rights race team’s driver, swapping between slick and wet tyres through-out the 20-minute qualifying session, only managed to get three decent laps in, were two counted for the grid positions – 3rd & 4th.

Round 3 of the championship started well for Lanik slotting from 3rd on the grid into 2nd place before the first corner. Lanik blocked Vaulkard, 2007 Seat class-B champion, but this gave an advantage to Andrew Herron, the driver lying 2nd in the championship, relieving Herron from pressure he extended the gap and pulled away on the first lap. Niki had to make sure he finishes the race, as a non-finish would most definitely ruin his hopes of winning the 2007 title. Lanik finished the race in 2nd place, meaning he still led the championship, but by only 5 points. “Herron was extremely quick in this race and he certainly narrowed down the championship points. If he wins the race and I come 2nd, then I will win the championship. But that’s only considering somebody else, not Herron, gets fastest lap. It’s very close.” Niki commented on his possible 2007 title, “Other than that, I’ve got not much more worked out. All I’m going to do is do my best and go for the championship win!”

Round 4 found the Miracle Drywash-sponsored race driver starting 4th on the grid, right behind his rival, Herron, who is starting 2nd on the grid. The red lights went out and the race started, Lanik had a blistering start launching from 4th straight into 2nd place, with Herron leading the race through the first series of corners. One lap later, coming up to Tower bend at 120mph, Lanik made the move down the inside of Herron, braking as late as he dares. Lanik owned the overtaking move and came out Tower bend in first place. The Austrian had to drive defensive lines for the next three laps trying to get the 2nd and 3rd placed drivers to start dicing with each other. This happened all to plan and Niki was able to drive comfortably to the chequered flag and become the 2007 Clio Cup Winter Championship, winning the race by 1.344 seconds.

“I had a fantastic start, made a perfect overtaking manoeuvre, had some fun getting the others into awkward positions, and then cruised to the finish line! It was THE perfect way to finish off my 2007 race season!” Lanik said with enthusiasm.

“I want to thank a few specific people. I want to thank Colin Stancombe and the best team in the world – Stancombe Vehicle Engineering – for being the funniest and most professional team around. I’d like to thank my sponsors and advertisers that made the financial side possible – Youth For Human Rights International, Staden Grange Country House (www.stadengrangehotel.co.uk), Miracle Drywash (www.miracledrywash.com), G&G Vitamins (www.GandGvitamins.com), Wealden Workwear (www.wwpe.co.uk) and to the guys who made the car look so awesome, Luxury Sign Design (www.lsdsign.co.uk). And last but definitely not least, my parents for always believing in me. THANKS!!” mentioned the Austrian 2007 Clio Cup Winter Champion. Find out more information about Niki Lanik on www.NikiLanik.com or www.myspace.com/lanik140.

Published: 2007-11-13 00:00:00

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