CLIO Cup - Thruxton 12 - 13 October 2007

The lasting memory from a meeting that was a destruction derby, was Aron Smith's excellent qualifying performance.

With two incidents at the chicane before the start finish straight, one in qualifying and one in the Saturday race, the three Mardi Gras cars were in a bent and sorry state prior to Sundays race. A red flag stopped qualifying but at a point when Arron was qualifying 3rd and 2nd for the two races, by far his best qualifying of the year. The Saturday race was ended prematurely when eight cars crashed on oil dropped on the chicane. Although Arron was involved, he was credited with 4th on the count back, his best result of the season.

Sundays race was to be a disappointment after an incident in the race was to drop Aron and Ed down the order.

Chris Rice was to have a miserable weekend, not finishing in either race.

Mardi Gras finished 5th in the entrants championship with Ed Pead 5th, Aron Smith 13th, John Lanceley 37th and Chris Rice 40th in the drivers championship.

Britcar - Silverstone 24 Hour Race 8-9 September 2007

The Mardi Gras entry of Des Smail, Richard Meins, Dave Axisa and Julian Rouse finished in 24th in the Silverstone 24 Hour Race.

The car was to run reliably but sustained accident damage when hit by a Mosler at 9:00PM on Saturday night. The body damage was superficial but it broke a driveshaft. The differential had to be stripped to remove the broken end of the shaft, taking the mechanics two and a quarter hours to get the car back out on the track again.

Paul and Dick would like to thank everyone who gave up there time to help with this special event. Without them the team could not compete and share their passion for 24 hour racing.

CLIO Cup - Donnington 8-9 September 2007

All three Mardi Gras Clio's finished in front of a huge Renault World Series crowd at Donnington.

Chris Rice was involved in an accident at the end of his qualifying race and was lucky to make it across the line to enable him to take part in the final.

CLIO Cup - Brands Hatch 18 - 19 August 2007

After the drop in entries at Snetterton that necessitated two point scoring rounds, the Clio's were back up to strength at Brands with two heats and a final.

All three cars came through Saturday's qualifying unscathed with solid qualifying performances. Ed was unlucky not to qualify 2nd in his heat , Paul Rivett making an excellent move at Graham Hill bend.

The Sunday was a different matter however! After three attempts at starting the race, it had to be deferred to the end of the meeting. Unfortunately Ed was involved in one of the red flag incidents, severely damaging the front of his car and preventing further participation. In the Final successful attempt, Aron was tagged on the opening lap leaving him with damaged steering. He valiantly fought a defensive race from 8th for the first half of the race before the train of cars behind him started slipping by.

Chris was to tag the back of Aron's car on the penultimate lap, breaking his suspension and tipping him into the tyre wall, causing a red flag which was to end the days activity.

With the Clio's missing Knockhill, their next outing is at the Renault World series round at Donnington, an event that clashes with the 24 hour race. A busy weekend for Mardi Gras!

Dunlop SportMaxx CLIO Cup - Zolder 3 - 4 August 2007

Aron Smith competed in the Dutch / Belgium Clio Series at Zolder with Mardi Gras. On the Friday he qualified 8th out of 23 cars despite never having tested on the circuit prior to the meeting.

In race 1 on Saturday Aron finished 17th, after receiving a drive through penalty. On the Sunday he was 8th after starting from 17th on the grid.

CLIO Cup - Snetterton 28 - 29 July 2007

As the number of drivers increased who were licking their wounds, massaging their budgets or repairing their cars, Snetterton marked the point where numbers decreased to revert the meeting to qualifying and two point scoring rounds.

In qualifying Ed Pead failed to match his Friday time with a car he felt was down on power. Chris Rice qualified his highest so far this year, indicating progress in the right direction. Round 7 however was to be his undoing. Both rounds were to be blighted with safety cars and red flags as incident followed incident.

Chris Rice was to get as high as 6th before sadly being tipped into a spin at the first corner and crashing backwards into a stationary car that had stopped earlier. The resulting damage was severe and Chris was shaken and slightly concussed necessitating a precautionary visit to hospital. He was able to attend on the Sunday but remembered little of the accident. When the race was red flagged for the incident, Ed had worked his through the carnage to 5th and Aron Smith, who had been hit earlier in the race, necessitating some heavy hammer work to clear the rear nearside wheel, was the last of the finishers, with seriously deranged steering.

Round 8 was to be red flagged following a mass of first lap incidents. It became more processional after the restart with Ed only managing to climb to 8th by the finish. Again Aron was battered and bruised in the pack, finally finishing 14th.

A busy week for Mardi Gras with a re shell and extensive repair work to the other two cars.

CLIO Cup - Donnington Park 14 - 15 July 2007

Ed Pead and Aron Smith did well to improve on their grid positions after disappointing qualifying races. Chris Rice was not so lucky and did not finish.

CLIO Cup - Oulton Park 23 - 24 June 2007

It was an early start for the Clio's with qualifying at 08:30. Although Ed Pead won his qualifying race, a slower fastest lap in the race, means he starts from second on the grid.

After the disappointing performance at Croft it is a relief to have three cars in the final.

In the final Ed held 2nd place right up to the last lap when he was passed by Martin Byford.

Britcar - Spa Francorchamps 16 June 2007

Des Smail and Tim Saunders finished a very creditable 16th and 1st in class in the four hour Britcar race at Spa in a Honda Integra.

After qualifying 48th out of the 50 starters they started steadily picking off the slower cars in front of them. Midway through, just as it was getting dark, there was heavy rain which stayed to the end of the race.The car came in to change to wets and take on fuel which was to see it through to the end with no dramas.

CLIO Cup - Croft 2 - 3 June 2007

It was a meeting to forget for the three Mardi Gras cars at Croft with Chris Rice not making the final and neither Ed Pead or Aron Smith finishing the race.

CLIO Cup - Thruxton 5-6 May 2007

CLIO Cup - Rockingham 21-22 April 2007

Ed Pead was relegated from 1st to 5th by the stewards following an incident on the final corner of his qualifying race. In the final he made it to 6th before the race was stopped, short of the full distance, to accommodate the BTCC race "live" on ITV.

Aron Smith had another steady race to finish 9th in the final.

Chris Rice was Mardi Gras only non-qualifyer for the final, dropping out early in Qualifying Race 1. He had been hit in the rear and the resulting damage could not be repaired in the pit road.

After Rockingham Ed Pead is joint leader of the championship on 47 with former Mardi Gras driver Robert Lawson. Aron Smith is 9th on 29 points.