Mike Robinson is the new leader of the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series championship after claiming his second win of the season for Total Control Racing at a bright and sunny Oulton Park in Cheshire on Saturday, 17th May.

Leaping up the points table from fifth into equal second place after round three, where he finished runner-up to chief rival David Dickenson, the TCR racer moved three points clear of the Irishman by the end of the afternoon with an excellent victory in the weekend’s second encounter.

Team-mate Andy Jordan also enjoyed a strong outing at the picturesque North West track, taking his first podium of 2014 in the opening race and fifth place in round four to climb into the championship top five.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend for Mike, absolutely superb, and to leave Oulton with the lead in the championship is the icing on the cake”, said team principal Lee Brookes, “He definitely had the pace to win both races, he showed that with the double pole, but a second and a win is great for him and everyone at the team.

“We’re delighted Andy’s managed to get his first podium of the year, he had to work hard for it under a lot of pressure but he didn’t put a wheel wrong. He’s bagged a lot of points this weekend and is getting ever closer to the top three in the championship where we know he can be.”

Qualifying on pole position for both of Saturday’s races, Robinson clearly had the pace to challenge for victory but a tardy getaway to round three gave then series leader Dickenson the opportunity to move ahead into Old Hall.

Determined to find a way back past his rival, Robinson tried everything and was never more than a few tenths of a second behind the Irishman’s rear bumper. Pressuring relentlessly lap after lap, the TCR racer managed to nose alongside on a couple of occasions but Dickenson had the line each time and was able to eventually shade Robinson for the win by only 0.3 seconds.

Confirming his pace, though, the pole-starter did claim the two bonus points for the fastest lap of the race with a best time of 1m35.933 seconds (83.53mph) to establish the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series lap record for Oulton Park’s Island Circuit.

Team-mate Jordan, starting the race from fourth on the grid having missed out on third by a mere 0.001 seconds, held position through the first corner but moved into third midway around lap one when Norway’s Tommy Ostgaard ran slightly wide at Knickerbrook Chicane.

Remaining there for the duration, Jordan had to soak up incredible pressure throughout but did so with aplomb – although the continued defence meant he wasn’t able to try and stay with the lead duo. Having to fend off a six car train, headed by experienced British Touring Car Championship racer Jeff Smith, the TCR driver managed to bag his first podium of the year by 0.3 seconds.

Round four fell under Safety Car conditions almost immediately after a multi-car tangle yards from the startline, a collision which ultimately led to red flags being displayed on lap four to enable recovery of the stricken Clios. Fortunately, Robinson and Jordan were both well clear of any of the trouble and were able to line-up for the re-start.

Robinson held second place through Old Hall for the first time with Jordan in fifth and over the first couple of laps the former piled on the pressure to leader Tommy Ostgaard. On lap three, Robinson made the breakthrough after forcing the Norwegian into a small mistake at Island Hairpin and was never headed thereafter. Ostgaard did, though, keep the pressure on to the finish on lap six.

Jordan set fastest lap pace early on and closed up behind Smith and third placed Luke Herbert, the pressure telling on the latter when he ran wide out of Cascades on lap four. As well as trying to find a way past Smith, Jordan also had to keep an eye on the advancing Paul Streather and the TCR driver eventually took the flag in fifth 0.8 seconds ahead of his pursuer.

Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire will host rounds five and six of the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series season on 31st May/1st June. On the same weekend, TCR’s Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge squad will also be in action at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.

2014 Michelin Clio Cup Race Series Driver Standings (after Rd4):

1st Mike Robinson, 94pts; 5th Andy Jordan, 65pts