Seventeen year-old James Williams from Norwich made his 2007 race debut in his Fatsos Restaurant-backed Elf Renault Clio Cup car at Brands Hatch this weekend. The Total Control Racing driver didn't get the result he deserved after a promising start to the weekend.

With 43 cars entered for this weekend's rounds, held on the tight, demanding Indy circuit, the format this year has changed, the drivers now being split into two heats based on qualifying times before the first 16 from each heat take to the track for the Sunday afternoon final.

Having qualified in 14th place for his heat he put in a stunning performance to gain five places in the ultra-competitive 10 lap race. Finishing ninth put him in 17th position on the grid for the 23-lap final which took place yesterday afternoon.

The start went well with James staying out of trouble as others spun off around him. In an incredibly tight race James had made his way up to 15th when disaster struck and he was involved in an incident with Carl Bradley at Druids and was left stranded in the gravel trap.

“Practice didn't start the weekend brilliantly with it being wet but we got in a bit of track time in the last session. Qualifying on Saturday wasn't great but in heat one I was pleased to make it up to ninth. On the last lap there was a bit of contact but I was determined to finish to make it into the final.

“The final started well - I got off the line and made up a few positions avoiding all the action and spins that were going on around me. I was with my TCR team-mates and we were going round in a pack until Bradley braked too late at the hairpin - or not enough - and that was my race over.

“It's not a brilliant start to the season but I knew it would be hard with so many cars. To make the main race was good and I'm hopeful of getting points at Rockingham after my fourth place there in T-Cars.”

James now enjoys a three week break until the next round of the championship, at Rockingham in Northamptonshire on April 21/22.

Results of Heat one - 10 laps
1 Ed Pead       Mardi Gras Motorsport   9:05.681
2 Mark Speller   Full Speed Racing     9:06.721
3 Barry Benham    Team TWC     9:07.600 
4 Jim Edwards Jnr   Kangaroo Int  9:08.738
5 Chris Dymond   Robertshaw Racing   9:09.348 
6 Philip House   PH Motorsport    9:11.910
9 JAMES WILLIAMS   Total Control Racing    9:17.759
Fastest Lap:  Ben Winrow 53.433 77.81mph 125.22kph   

Results of Final - 23 laps
1. Ed Pead   Mardi Gras Motorsport 21.55.773
2. Andrew Jordan  Team Eurotech   21:58.034
3. Robert Lawson  JHR Developments  21:59.875
4. Martin Byford  Z Speed Racing   22:00.898
5. Michael Doyle  JHR Developments  22:01.547
6. Mark Speller  Full Speed Racing  22:02.448

DNF James Williams Total Control Racing 17 laps
Fastest Lap: Andrew Jordan 53.419 80.80mph 121.18kph

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For media information:    Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates
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www.jameswilliamsracing.co.uk