Callie Clifford secured two MK6 class podium finishes at Thruxton in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship, overcoming challenging weather and a race-one retirement to secure two third place results in class.
Callie Clifford returned to the podium of the MK6 class in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship at Thruxton. Clifford battled challenging conditions throughout the weekend, however the JamSport Racing driver overcame adversity to secure two third place results in class.
After retiring after an incident not of her own making in race one, Callie bounced back to finish 13th overall in race two, third in the MK6 class. Despite a late-race technical issue in race three, Clifford was able to take the checkered flag in 14th place overall, again securing a podium finish in class.
Clifford arrived at Thruxton looking for an upturn in form following a challenging middle-portion of the season. After starting her rookie season in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship in spectacular fashion with multiple top-10 finishes, Callie retired from three of the last four races and was therefore searching for some consistency at the fastest circuit in Britain. Like the majority of her fellow teenage drivers, this weekend marked Clifford’s first trip to Thruxton and learning the circuit would be the first task.
Without an additional free practice session on Saturday morning, the drivers went straight into qualifying searching for a strong starting position. Conditions were challenging with a damp track and following two early red flags, the session was first limited to ten minutes and then to just seven minutes. Callie made good progress in light of the circumstances and set the 14th fastest time overall, third fastest in the MK6 class.
A rain shower prior to the opening race of the weekend had made the track damp off-line, however Clifford was determined to move forward from her new starting position of 13th. The JamSport Racing driver made a good start and gained two positions on lap one to move into 11th while holding third in the MK6 class. It was a tough first half of the race for Clifford who then lost third position in class to Maggie Webster, while also falling behind Jack Burgess and Harry Lindley.
Clifford was then involved in a close battle with Daniella Sutton as the two female drivers exchanged positions on multiple occasions, with the slipstream effect proving powerful at Thruxton. After moving ahead of Sutton on lap six, contact was made between the drivers on lap seven which saw Clifford and Sutton both retire from the race. It was a disappointing end to race one where Callie was enjoying a number a tight midfield battles.
Following excellent work from the JamSport racing team overnight, Clifford was able to line up on the grid for race two on Sunday morning. Conditions were more challenging at Thruxton and although it was not raining at the start of the race, the track was damp and treacherous.
Starting from 15th overall, fourth in the MK6 class, Callie made a good start and gained one position on the opening lap. Although she fell behind a recovering Archie Davies on lap two, her attention was now focused forward on the group of drivers ahead.
On lap three, she took over a provisional podium position in the MK6 class as Maggie Webster fell to the rear of the field, while MK7 driver Harry Lindley moved ahead. Running behind Lindley for the middle portion of the race, Clifford was gaining in confidence and this was shown by a succession of personal best laps.
Overtaking Lindley on lap seven, Callie was then able to complete a nice move on Aaron Beattie for 13th position on lap eight. Now at the head of this small group of drivers, Clifford was unable to rely on the slipstream effect to protect her position, however she drove well to take the checkered flag in 13th position, third in the MK6 class, while setting a personal best time on the final lap.
The third race of the weekend was scheduled for Sunday afternoon with conditions remaining challenging. The track was still damp with a similar level of surface water to the second race of the weekend and therefore Clifford was aiming to use her experience of the earlier race to move forward and end the meeting on a high.
Starting from 13th position overall, third in the MK6 class, Clifford gained one position on the opening lap and was looking comfortable in the early stages. After losing her provisional podium place to Maggie Webster and also falling behind Benjamin Doughty, Clifford fell to 14th.
The JamSport Racing scholarship winner was then able move ahead of Thomas Merritt, before the middle portion of her race was characterised by close midfield battles. The MK7 class machines of Henry Foote and Jenson Mason then encountered difficulties which elevated Callie into 11th overall, however Clifford then encountered a late-race technical issue.
A determined final two laps saw Clifford take the checkered flag in 14th position overall, third in the MK6 class to bank vital championship points while also standing on the podium for the second time at Thruxton.
Clifford displayed good resilience at Thruxton as she overcame a disappointing first race of the weekend to score podium finishes in class in the remaining two contests. Battling hard in the midfield, Callie was able to develop her racecraft while learning the high-speed circuit in a range of conditions.
The JamSport Racing driver will be looking to end the season on a high when the BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship drivers return to Silverstone on the weekend of 12th/13th October.
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