The latest Round of the Elf Renault Clio Cup saw a return to Donington Park and what would be the biggest event of the year, The World Series By Renault. 

Alan Taylor, fresh from his great debut in the BTCC at Knockhill was really looking forward to racing in front of such a huge crowd.  Qualifying was a bit of a headache for Taylor who was struggling to get into a rhythm and after a few moments he eventually would line up 18^th on the grid. 

The Qualification race was held late on Saturday and with the race held over 10 laps or 20 minutes (which ever came first) Alan knew that 19^th or Higher would be good enough to make it in to the main race on Sunday.  As the lights went out Alan made a bad start and lost a place to Full Speed Racings Martin Johnston on the run to the first corner.  By the Old Hairpin Alan was passed Johnston and soon the back of Mel Healey and Chris Panayiotou who were battling for 16^th Place.  By lap 3 Alan had passed both of them and was pushing his car to the limit and was thrilling the huge crowd with 2 wheels through the Fogarty Esses throughout the race.  As the race wore on both Alan and Chris had broken clear of Mel and were catching Rob Gaffney and Newcomer Simon Quinn who were having a great battle for what was now 14^th place after pole sitter Michael Doyle passed them following his moment on lap one.  By lap 6 Panayiotou had retaken the 16^th place from Alan and they were right with Gaffney and Quinn. Coming down the Wheatcroft Straight to start lap 7.  Gaffney ran wide coming out of Redgate and that gave Quinn Panayiotou and Taylor all to close up.  Mel Healey who was having a great second half to her race and running nicely in 17th was catching all three.  As the group exited McLean’s it all got physical between Gaffney and Quinn with the pair of them making contact through Coppice and all down the back straight.  Meanwhile Alan had retaken Chris and was watching the barging match ahead of him and wisely hanging back in case he got caught up.  Out of the esses on Lap 7 Alan dived down the inside of both Gaffney and Quinn as they made solid Contact ending their race and with Rob’s Heavily damaged car on the track there was no alternative to stop the race.  Alan ended up 16^th and would line up 31^st for the Feature race.

The Feature race was held in front of 80,000 People and with the sun shining and 38 Clio’s on the grid this was going to be the best race of the weekend.  The start was chaos.  The first attempt the lights refused to work.   The second Alex Macdowell who was put at the back decided to take his original grid place and that confused drivers behind him so he was sent to the back again.  The third attempt saw a Union jack used to start the race and as the flag went up some left the line whilst the others waited for the flag to go down.  Alan made a good start and avoided all the carnage on lap one which included Jamie Cleland being tapped on the run to the first corner and some how everyone missed him.  With all the carnage Alan picked his way through and by the end of lap 1 he was 25^th and right with James Williams and Steve Wood.  As the race progressed Alan was right with Wood and Williams and when the pair made contact ended Steed Woods race Alan took full advantage to move up to 23^rd place.  By lap 4 Alan had be demoted to 24^th by Alex MacDowell who had Barged passed to take the place but Alan later Alan retook it and regained his 23^rd place.  The pair of them was battling throughout the race and again Alex Passed Alan to re take the position, which was now 22^nd after Niki Lanik’s Radiator gave up forcing the Austrian out of the race.  Ad the race entered its final Lap Alan was in a safe 23^rd place and that’s where he would finish as the flag fell.  After the race Alan commented, “ The race was mad.  I had a problem right at the start because of the delays etc the car cut out and refused to start but eventually I got it going.  The weekend has been great and I even managed to Sign over 200 autographs in the 30 mins building up to the race!!  The crowd have been fabulous.  My next race will be at Thruxton but I am unsure which I will be doing out of the BTCC Or the Clio Cup.  Watch this space."

Following a mixed weekend at Snetterton Alan Taylor arrived at Brands Hatch with one thing on his mind.  Qualify for the feature race and get some points.  This weekend it was back to the 3-race format due to the circuit only being able to accommodate 32 cars.

Qualifying was a bit of a struggle for Taylor who was suffering with under steer going in to Clearways and Paddock Hill and this was costing him time.  At the end of the session he would line up 16^th on the grid.  About an hour later that was all to change.  Alan and 5 other cars were disqualified from the session and given 6 penalty points plus a ten second penalty for the race.  This was due to a plastic part missing from the radiator.  Alan was not happy but it was beyond his control.

As the field went off for the Qualifying heat Alan had to wait for 10 seconds before he could go. As he left the grid he started trying to catch up but as he approached Graham Hill Bend it all went wrong.  Following Hodgetts the back end of the no32 Clio swapped ends and spun to a halt.  The car wouldn’t restart straight away.  Eventually it did and Alan lost best part of half a lap and spent rest of the race playing catch up.  Sadly this was to no avail and although he had made up over 14 seconds there was not enough time to progress higher than 18^th place.  This meant Alan was unable to qualify for the feature race. However Taylor would be third reserve in case of any stoppages.

Race day dawned and the weather was playing havoc with the day’s proceedings with one minute it would be heavy rain followed by sun.  No one could have predicted what was going to happen.  With Alan, Team mate Barry Benham and Martin Johnston all sat in the pit lane hoping there would be a race stoppage.  With the warm up lap underway already there was drama.  Jonathan Shepherd's Car had suddenly swapped ends and whacked the barrier and putting him out of the race.  This allowed Martin Johnston in.  As the race got underway Alan's Team-Mate Michael Doyle got tapped into a spin and ended up in the gravel at paddock.  Further around the lap there was more carnage and the race was stopped.  This allowed Alan and Barry into the race.  The problem was the race was abandoned due to the chaos.  After a stern word from the clerk of the course the Clio’s were allowed out minus all the first attempt retirees as they had received mechanical assistance.  A delighted Alan was in.  “I can’t believe I am in the race, an hour a go I was ready to go home and now I’m in.  I’m just going to be real cautious over the first lap and let it all unfold then go for it.”

With Alan starting flat last he knew that getting into the top 20 was a possibility.  As the lights went out Alan had a great start and was right with Mel Healey and Carl Bradley who had started 2 rows ahead of him.  The first lap was quite restrained apart from Chris Panayiotou going off at Druids.  Alan meanwhile had barged passed Steve Collison at Druids and spent the next 6 laps trying to pass Carl Bradley who was struggling.  Eventually Taylor did at Surtees and instantly began closing on the tremendous battle for 17^th place between Mel Healey and Robert Gaffney.  As the flag fell after an extraordinary race Alan was within 2 seconds but had to settle for 19^th place. After the race Alan said, “ Today has been the strangest day I have ever experienced.  I am pleased that I got 2 points and am looking forward to the World Series event in September.”

For the Snetterton rounds of the Elf Renault Clio Cup there was a change to the usual 3-race format.  Due to some competitors withdrawing from the series the entry was down to 37 cars.  As the circuit can hold 38 there was no need to hold 2 heats and then a points scoring race.  For this meeting, the World Series and the Final Round at Thruxton it will be 2 points scoring rounds with potentially double points on offer. 

After a bruising encounter at Donington, Alan Taylor arrived at Snetterton eager to put that behind him and get some more points on the board.

Qualifying was incredibly close with the top 35 cars covered by less than 2.5 seconds.  Alan had a good session with no problems and used other drivers to gain a tow down the 1km revett straight which would mean a greater chance of gaining a top twenty position on the grid.  The session ended with Taylor 30^th on the grid for the race just one and a half seconds off the fastest time.

Race one starting on row 15 Alan knew he had to make a lightning start and thats what he did as the lights went out.  Going round the first corner there was the usual chaos with cars spinning off, this benefitted taylor who, by the end of the first lap had passed 7 cars in to 23rd position.  After a 5 lap Safety Car Period the race was back on.  by 3/4 distance Alan was up to 21st with Mark Speller closing fast and the Full Speed driver would eventually barge passed at Coram with 2 laps to go.  on lap 12 the race was brought to an early end.  Chris Rice had a nasty looking accident so the medical team needed to attend to the driver.  This promoted Alan to 20th which was then turned to 19th when Niki Lanik was disqualifyed for his part in the Rice incedent. 

Race 2 Saw a huge crowd and with bright sunshine and with a 36 car grid it was going to an epic race.  This time Alan was 26th on the grid to with a good start needed things were looking good.  As the lights went out again Taylor got off the line well but then disaster.  Mark Speller and Robert Brown made contact and Ant Scragg swerved out of the way collecting Alan who was then Hit by Mel Healey and Jonathan Shepherd.  The race was over for Taylor.  Alan said " That was quick, Mark and Robert made contact and Ant turned into my path then I think Mel went into me and then Jonathan finished me off.  It was a real shame that its happend but the grid is so narrow here it was inevitable something was going to happen." 

After joining the Clio Cup at the Thruxton Meeting in 2006 Alan Taylor from Whitley Bay decided that for his racing in 2007 activities he would plan a full assault of the 2007 Elf Clio Cup. This is the Story so far

This year gone was the Clio 182 and it was hello to the new clio 197.  The car although larger would boast a 205bhp 2.0litre engine and a with over 40 cars sold the series was going to be fantastic.  For 2007 due to the huge entry the race format had to changed from 2 races to 3.  with over 43 cars arriving at the first round at brands hatch it was impossible for them all to race at the same time as the circuit can only hold 32. The field was split into 2 groups and they would each get their own qualifying session and a qualification race then the top 16 from each heat would go in to the main championship scoring race on the sunday with 2 reserves.

Round one saw Alan in group 2 and the qaulifying went ok lining up 16th on the grid so that was just on the bubble for getting through to the main race.  The race got underway and it was a good start made by Alan who made up a couple of places going to in to the first corner.  As the field approached the next corner Druids, Alan got forced wide loosing a place but that was ok he was still in a qualifying position.  oing down the back Straight Alan had Mel Healey alongside him and was giving him room going through Surtees but then disaster.  Alan got a tap from Robert Brown turning the no32 Clio round and then collecting the innocent David Shepherd.  With broken steering it was game over for Taylor and unable to take part in the main race.

Next stop was the Rockingham Motorspeedway for round 2.  A new circuit for all the drivers.  Qualifying for Alan's heat was tougher than Brands and he was struggling to get to grips with the final section of the track leaving 20th and last on the grid knowing that top 18 would get him in to the race.  The race got underway and Alan made a blistering start but then had to break hard to avoid a collision between Mel Healey, Derek Peirce and Robert Brown.  By the left hander at Gracelands Alan was up to 12th but was passed by Andrew Bentley going into the Tarzan Hairpin.  This was ok because Bentley had slowed him self on the exit and Alan had the run going in to the Esses but Bentley was having none of and contact was made.  Alan was sent straight on in to the gravel with broken steering and out of the race.  As the team got the car back Alan got news that he was in the main race.  Even he retired he was unaware that 3 others had retired but Alan had got the furthest round the first lap.  This meant he would be 36th on the grid which is flat last!  The main race infront of 35,000 people was going to be a tough race.  Alan made a good start but again had to avoid an icedent between Cleland, Lanik and Fildes with Cleland just missing Taylor.  As the race prgressed after a safety car period Alan was up to 22nd place and going well.  However, he was being caught by Jamie Cleland who was making an excellant recovery from his first lap spin.  The chequred flag fell after only 8 laps due to the BTCC having to go out on time for the TV coverage.  Alan ended up a relieved 23rd. 

Round 3 was the first opportunity for the Clio Cup to sample the ultra fast Thruxton Circuit.  With Speeds of over 125mph and a 38 car limit it was going to be a fantastic sight.  Qulifying went well for Alan who ended up a excellent 14th on the grid so he was well inside the comfort zone and just needed a trouble free race.  The race got underway and Alan made a solid start gaining one place off the line.  At the end of the first lap  he was passed by Finlay Crocker who pull off a brave move round the outside of the Chicane.  This was replicated by Robert Gaffney dropping Taylor to 15th.  This was ok and as the race settled down Alan was easily the fastest out the back and was gaining on Crocker to regain the places he lost to the Scot but then drama.  Going round Goodwood which in a Clio is 120mph he ran wide on to the grass.  That was ok till he found the ditch.  The car got launched nosedived and landed heavily doing a lot of damage to the car.  Despite that Taylor Finished in 20th place hoping for one more retirment so Alan would geti n to the race.  This was not to be.  So Alan Failed to qualify but the team repaired the car and Alan would be first reserve.  Sadly he didnt get to race in the main race as there was not a red flag to enable him to join in.

Croft was the next stop and this would be Alan's home race so there was a lot of pressure on him to do well.  This would be Alan's best weekend of the season so far.  Again it was a 3 race weekend due to the huge field with 36 cars being allowed to start the feature race.  Alan would qualify for his heat in 15th place.  The heat was an 8 lap dash to the flag and Alan held his own despite attentions of Ciaran Butler trying to pass at the hairpin.  At the end Alan finished 15th and would line up 30th on the grid for the championship race.  The main race drew a huge crowd that had stayed on to watch the Clio Cup and as the field got underway there was the predicted chaos.  Going in to Clerveaux Andrew Jordan hit the cerb a bit too hard subsequently breaking his suspension causing a bottle neck behind.  Alan Meanwhile was delayed at the first corner as he was faced with Derek Peirce broadside in front of him.  This dropped Alan to 32nd place.  By half way Taylor was up to 24th and going superbly and closing on the group ahead.  By the end of the race Alan finished 20th and colelcting his first point of the year.

Oulton Park was the next stop.  This was a turning point for Alan as the week before Him and Micheal Doyle took their cars to Spa-Francochamps to guest in the Clio Cup Italia.  Micheal scored a maiden Win and Alan was 22nd.  Both drivers showed that the Brits can beat the italians at their own game.  Qualifying at Oulton was a nail biter with Alan leaving it till the last lap to vault from 19th on the grid to 14th this would turn to 13th as team mate Chris Dymond was put to the back for a technical infringment.  The race was one of Alan's best for the season after a great start the Robertshaw Racing driver was up to 12 th and closing on the battle for 10th.  with 3 laps to go Alan was tenth and him and Andrew bentley were working together to close on the tremendous battle for 4th place.  As the flag fell and finished 10th, his best finish of the year.  For the main race Taylor would line up 20th out of the 32 car field.  As the main race got underway again Alan made a great start and passed a couple of cars.  Sadly the race was going to be a short one.  Coming out of the Island Hairpin Taylor received a tap from another driver and that pitched the Whitley Bay driver hard in to the tyre wall and out of the race. with the entire drivers side damaged it would mean lots of hard work for the team to get the car ready for Donington. 

Round 6 took the series to Donington Park in the East Midlands. After Oulton, Alan had a repaired car and was ready to continue the great pace he had been showing in recent events.  Qualifying would prove to be Alans best so far ending up in 10th place.  However, because he passed a car under yellow flags this dropped him to 16th place on the grid.  As the race got underway it was clearly visable Alan was going to go for it and blasted off the line passing 5 cars by the end of the first lap.  By half distance Taylor would be in 8th place and had caught the battle for 6th.  with 2 laps to go Alan got a great run down the pit straight and was up to 7th but then he received a tap at Redgate and turning the no32 Clio round and into the gravel.  The race was over.  Wht would have been a great 14th place on the grid for the final turned into 32nd place.

After a 4 hour delay the final got underway again Alan made a solid start but at the first corner he was delayed by an incident ahead of him forcing Taylor to virtually grind to a halt.  During the race Alan was playing catch up and after a collision with James Williams, Alan was up to 25th and catching Mel Healey.  Again with 2 laps to go Alan got pushed off at redgate and down to 27th place and thats where he would finally finish after what was a race to forget.