It was a visit to the quickest track on the calendar for Stockport’s Kyle Hornby as the Renault UK Clio Cup visited Thruxton for the latest rounds of the 2017 championship.
Hornby, in his first season behind the wheel of his 20Ten by Pyro Renault Clio, set 18th and 21st fastest lap times for the series’ two races at the Hampshire track with average lap speeds just a little under 100mph.
Under sunny skies and in front of a bumper crowd, Hornby, a former Poynton High School pupil, made a great start to race one, claiming three places on the opening lap and despite losing a spot a lap later to Myles Collins, grabbed the place back two laps later.
Two laps later Hornby was back down to 16th, but wasted no time nicking two places back a lap later from both Collins and Luke Reade, leaving him in 14th spot.
The Hazel Grove youngster would hold on until the flag as the pack behind battled for places, crossing the line just seven-tenths of a second ahead of Lucas Orrock.
Up front it was left to Pyro’s Mike Bushell to win, having taken pole and recording a new lap record with the fastest-ever UK Clio Cup race speed.
A much reduced second race was red-flagged just two corners in as a multi-car accident caused the contest to be stopped to recover the cars, Hornby taking avoiding action to make his way around the ensuing incident.
With just ten minutes on the clock, there would only be time for a six-lap dash to the flag, Hornby climbing to 15th early on to eventually finish 13th.
He was subsequently promoted to 12th with Reade given a 30s penalty for jumping the race start.
Next time out Hornby moves on to his ‘home’ track of Oulton Park in Cheshire, for rounds 7&8 on May 20 and 21.