Dan Zelos finished off a frustrating Renault Clio Cup season with his first ever trip to the series rostrum at the final round at Brands Hatch.

Eastern Daily Press: Dan Zelos shows how much it meant in claiming his first Renault Clio Cup podium. Picture: Jakob EbreyDan Zelos shows how much it meant in claiming his first Renault Clio Cup podium. Picture: Jakob Ebrey (Image: www.jakobebrey.com)

'What is it they say about waiting for ages and then two come along at once,' remarked a jubilant Zelos after the Dereham youngster had claimed his second podium place at the Kent circuit.

Zelos headed to Brands Hatch determined to secure his first rostrum visit in the series. 'We've shown strong speed pretty much everywhere this year, but for a variety of reasons, the podium has always escaped us.'

The 19-year-old Norwich University of Arts Graphic Design undergraduate planted the Evergreen Tyres supported Clio on grid four for both races around the dauntingly fast Grand Prix layout.

Zelos artfully missed a stalled car at the start of the first race, which several cars behind failed to do promoting a safety car, and when racing resumed the local racer nipped past Daniel Rowbottom who regained second place after a late braking move.

However, Rowbottom would incur the wrath of the race officials, for continually flouting track limitations, and would receive a time penalty which promoted Zelos to second place in the results.

'I was a bit lost for words after stepping out of the car, and it was an amazing feeling and very special to look down from the podium and see my family and team cheering for me,' admitted Zelos.

'Having done it once, I obviously wanted to do it all over again in race two and I pulled off the same move at the start to grab second.

'It was brilliant to be on the podium again. To take away two trophies was an absolute dream end to the season, and to have earned them both on merit.

'I just wish there were more races still to go this year, but it's a fantastic way to head into the winter.

'It's no secret that 2016 was a big bump in the road, a really tough year, but now I'm fully back on-track and I need to thank Evergreen for keeping the faith and WDE for believing in me and picking me up from what was a pretty low ebb.

'Thanks to them, I'm a totally different driver now to the one I was 12 months ago.'