AFTER a five-week break, Luke Wright resumed his 2011 Air Asia Renault Clio Cup UK campaign at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire last weekend.

The Shaftesbury driver was racing at the picturesque parkland venue with a new car after having had his original written off last time out at Thruxton when he collided heavily with another competitor who had spun across the track in front of him whilst challenging at the front of the field.

The 18-year-old arrived at Oulton Park looking to put a run of early season bad luck behind him but after a frustrating three days, which saw Wright struggle to replicate the front running pace he had shown over the first three meetings of the season, the weekend’s two races rewarded very little.

Having qualified 11th on the grid for both races, Wright had a rather lonely run in Saturday’s opener, finishing where he started in 11th place.

Sunday’s second race saw the weather conditions change markedly with damp conditions hitting the circuit.

In a calculated gamble, Wright and the Scuderia Vittoria team elected to start the race with slick tyres on the front of the Clio, hoping a dry line would develop as the race progressed. However, Lady Luck was not on their side as the light rain resumed and with most others having wet tyres fitted Wright struggled home in 13th place with a severe lack of traction.

“It’s been a bit of a nightmare to be honest,” said Wright. “We have really struggled to get to the bottom of just why the pace is not there. There just seems to be a lack of grip coming out of the slower corners, which means it’s very difficult to get the power down.”

Wright remains upbeat however, with the series now moving on to the Croft circuit in Yorkshire in two weeks’ time. “I love the place, he said. “Last time I raced there, which was in Formula Renault, I won.”

The Croft circuit near Darlington hosts both the Clio Cup UK and British Touring Car Championship on June 18-19.