Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Leeds Beckett student claims first race win in Renault UK Clio Cup
Sports Marketing student Max Coates, 22, won in front of a home crowd at the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire to cap what he described as a ‘fairytale’ weekend.
Both rounds 9 and 10 of the 18-race season were held over the course of the weekend of 18-19 June.
For the first race Max qualified in seventh position for Ciceley Motorsport and finished second after overtaking former UK Clio Cup Champion, Mike Bushell.
But he went even better in his second race of the weekend after qualifying in fifth.
Moving into fourth early on, he passed Bushell and benefited from a problem for then-race leader, Paul Rivett, before going into the lead after making a move on Josh Price. Max defended the lead under late pressure from Bushell to secure a popular win in front of his home support.
He said: “What a fairytale weekend. I was happy with second in race one and knew we had the pace to go and win the second race.
“It’s a dream come true to win at Croft, this is a day that I will remember for a very long time. I owe a massive thank you to everyone at Ciceley Motorsport and my extended team who work passionately alongside me and, of course, all my partners who make this possible.”
The double podium and maiden win moves Max to fourth in the championship - a single point off third.
The series now takes a break before the next round at Snetterton, Norfolk, on 30- 31 July.
Pictures courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography