Josh Files gave his TCR Europe title hopes a big boost by claiming his first victory in the series in Monday's race at Zandvoort after the Poringland racer dominated the event.

Eastern Daily Press: Honda Civic racer Josh Files on the top step of the TCR Europe podium at Zandvoort with second-placed Jaap van Lagen (on Files left) and Danny Kroes, who was later demoted to fourth place for contact Picture:TCR Europe.Honda Civic racer Josh Files on the top step of the TCR Europe podium at Zandvoort with second-placed Jaap van Lagen (on Files left) and Danny Kroes, who was later demoted to fourth place for contact Picture:TCR Europe. (Image: Archant)

'It was a perfect day for me and I am happy it happened on such a fantastic track and close to home, as I live virtually across the Channel,' said Files.

Files lined up in fourth place on the grid and made another of his trademark superb starts to be placed second after the opening corner of the Dutch track and shortly after eased his way past leader Jens Reno Møller.

The local racer kept his Honda Civic out of reach of the chasing pack to take his, and Honda's, first TCR Europe victory, which has promoted Files into third place in the championship chase, 16 points adrift of the twin leaders Mikel Azcona and Dušan Borkovi?.

In Sunday's race at the seaside track, Files finished in fourth place having been elbowed out of a podium place late in the race.

Eastern Daily Press: Dereham racer Dan Zelos flying high in his efforts to make up places after starting problems in the second Renault UK Clio Cup race at Thruxton Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography.Dereham racer Dan Zelos flying high in his efforts to make up places after starting problems in the second Renault UK Clio Cup race at Thruxton Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography. (Image: Archant)

'Taking the positives despite missed podium,' he said.

It all went wrong for Dan Zelos in the latest races in the Renault UK Clio Cup, with the local racer unable to get off the starting grid cleanly in both races at the super fast Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire.

It had all started brightly for the Dereham racer after annexing fifth place on the race one grid and improving to fourth for race two.

'Good day at the office today,' said the Evergreen Tyres-supported driver.

'Although I reckon we had the speed for the front row if we had got into the tow, which is so important here.'

Just as the starting lights went out for race one, Zelos suffered a clutch problem and all his hard work in qualifying was for nothing as he was swamped by the grid and he completed the opening lap in last place.

In the following eight laps Zelos fought by two competitors to finish up a highly disappointing 17th.

As he took up his starting slot for race two he again signalled he had issues and as the race started he could only crawl away from the starting grid.

However, a safety car interlude came to his rescue and from 17th place he worked his way up to 10th place before the race ended as it had begun, under the safety car.