RACING rivals and off-the-track friends, Daniel Buxton and David Gibson, shared the podium at the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire on Sunday.
Buxton, who comes from Cuddington, is the new leader of the Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup after winning the eighth round of the championship.
The win was his second in eight days after he won the Clio Cup's night race at Snetterton in Norfolk and his fourth of the season. He now holds a 13-point lead in the title race over Tim Mullen (Portadown), who failed to finish the race.
Gibson, who lives in Tarporley, was third for the Elite Motorsport team managed by his father Andy the team's best ever position.
Buxton ran in second position for the first half of the race before diving into the lead past Martin Byford (Sudbury). Pushing his Symantec-sponsored car to the limit, he then set a new lap record at an average of 83.13mph on his way to the chequered flag.
'To win with fastest lap for the second race and take the lead of the championship is just the perfect result for me,' said 23-year-old Buxton, who drives for the TSM Developments team.
'Even better news is that the next round is at my home circuit of Oulton Park where I won both races last time we were there in May. I can't wait.
'Gibson looked like heading for fourth spot, but he chased down his nearest rival to snatch the last podium position. There is no way I was going to set -tle for fourth after all the effort from the team.
'The television cameras were going to see me on the podium or I was not going to finish,' he said.
Oulton Park stages round 10 of the Elf Clio Cup on August 25-26.
The British Racing and Sports Car Club returns to Oulton Park tomorrow to host a full day of racing featuring the popular Caterham Tour.
The eight-race pro -gramme features a full range of races and qualifying starts at 9am, followed by racing at 1.15pm.
Admission is £10 (£8 in advance on 0870 6060611) and chil -dren go free.
