Second win of year and double podium for Dixon at Donington

Moving into the runner-up spot in the championship standings, the 21-year-old signalled his intent to mount a serious bid for the 2011 title by seeing off the challenge of double Clio Cup champion Paul Rivett at the start of the second encounter and remaining unflappable under huge pressure.

With two victories and another podium from the first four races of the 16-round season, plus a brace of pole position starts this weekend, James has rightly confirmed his position as a consistent threat in the prestigious Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support category.

“I’m over the moon to be honest, it’s been a great weekend for us and to have taken wins at Brands Hatch and now Donington as well is a great”, said the Stockbury-based driver, “I didn’t make the best of starts to the races this weekend but we’ve been consistent, the car has been fantastic and the team has worked really hard as usual. It’s great to come out on top again, I’m really delighted.”

During the official pre-event test at Donington on Thursday, James set the pace and was the only driver to dip under the 1m18 second barrier with a time of 1m17.953 seconds (91.39mph) – setting himself up well for the weekend’s action. He then went on to qualify his ABP Heating, Weidmuller and The Art of Decorating liveried Clio on pole position for both races during Saturday’s session.

Making an even getaway to Saturday afternoon’s third round with fellow front-row starter Rivett, James had to settle for second place at Redgate Corner where he remained for the duration of the 14 lap encounter.

While attempting to pressurise Rivett into a mistake, he also had to be mindful of pressure from behind which he handled with great assurance. Although disappointed to miss out on the win in the first race of the weekend, James still scooped the Graduate Cup class victory with second place.

For Sunday’s fourth round, the start proved critical again but this time in James’ favour as he held firm through Redgate to retain the inside line and hold on to the lead from pole position. His lead fluctuated throughout the race but the gap was never much more than a few 10ths of a second, such is the competitiveness of the Clio Cup.

Never giving the slightest glimpse of opportunity for his pursuers though, the Total Control Racing driver managed to control the pace at the front and took the chequered flag 0.4 seconds clear to notch-up his second win of the year and fourth career victory, and another Graduate Cup win.

Even a cut hand – the result of an unhelpfully wedged cork in his celebratory champagne – couldn’t lessen the smile on James’ face after the second race and he heads to Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire two weeks from now confident of building on his early season success.

Rounds five and six of the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK will take place on 30th April/1st May at ultrafast Thruxton. As ever, live television coverage of the event will be screened on Freeview, digital satellite and cable channel ITV4, on the ITV4 HD channel and online at www.itv.com/touringcars.