Fresh from a double podium, while guesting in the Mini Challenge series, Dan Zelos' confidence was high as he travelled to the penultimate round of the Renault Clio Cup series.

Eastern Daily Press: Dan Zelos'’ over-ambitious move on the opening lap of the second Renault Clio Cup race at Silverstone ended with him taking a trip across the grass and dropping him to the back of the grid Picture: Jakob Ebrey PhotographyDan Zelos'’ over-ambitious move on the opening lap of the second Renault Clio Cup race at Silverstone ended with him taking a trip across the grass and dropping him to the back of the grid Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography (Image: Archant)

The Dereham student worked hard to raise the funds to compete in the Silverstone round and repaid his backers by claiming fifth place on the grid for both events.

'It was a tough few weeks and I have to give a huge thanks to Evergreen Tyres, Grouptyre and the WDE family for their continued support,' he said.

In the opening race Zelos ran in the leading pack, briefly holding the lead, but misfortune saw him a victim of a clash between Jack Young and Michael Epps, with the latter knocking Zelos off-track before he recovered to claim eighth place.

'It's not the result we wanted today, when we were battling for the win, but sometimes you can't predict others' errors,' he said.

Eastern Daily Press: Dan Zelos led his first Renault Clio Cup race of the season at Silverstone with his Evergreen Tyres-supported car but misfortune intervened and he could only finish in eighth and 13th places Picture: Jakob Ebrey PhotographyDan Zelos led his first Renault Clio Cup race of the season at Silverstone with his Evergreen Tyres-supported car but misfortune intervened and he could only finish in eighth and 13th places Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography (Image: Jakob Ebrey)

'Win it or bin it is what they say,' Zelos said after race two.

'We were three-wide for the lead going into Brooklands, which hadn't been in my plan.

'I was very deep into the corner and tried to get the car turned in and thought I could hang onto it, but it just got away from me and sent me spinning across the track.'

Zelos' wild trip across the grass dropped him to last place from which he made steady progress to finish 13th.

Eastern Daily Press: Besthorpe'’s Tom Griffiths with his BMW Compact Cup car after taking his first ever race victory at the Thruxton round of the series Picture: TJ Motorsport/D MariesBesthorpe'’s Tom Griffiths with his BMW Compact Cup car after taking his first ever race victory at the Thruxton round of the series Picture: TJ Motorsport/D Maries (Image: C:all rights reserved 07780934510)

'Sorry guys, sometimes I can be over-ambitious,' he admitted.

A delighted Tom Griffiths returned to Besthorpe after clinching his first ever race victory in the latest rounds of the BMW Compact Cup, held at the dauntingly fast Thruxton Circuit.

The local racer, in his first full season of racing, qualified on the front row for the opening race alongside reigning champion Steve Dailly, who he passed at the last corner of the final lap to secure his maiden victory.

Griffiths and Dailly had to fight off the early attentions of Matt Parkes and Ben Huntley in race two before the pair could continue their race one duel, but this time the local racer was just unable to displace his rival in the closest ever Compact Cup finish.

With the local racer also claiming the fastest race lap in both contests he moves up to fourth place in the series.