Nicole Drought started her IRX Open Clubman Championship title defence in the best possible manner, with a double win at rounds one and two of the 2024 series at Mondello Park at the weekend.
Her Joe Mallon Motors Renault Clio took a dominant win on the opening round on Saturday and was even more impressive on Sunday, winning all three heats and the final to leave the Kildare venue with a healthy lead in the Championship.
A great start to the season for our @SiltexSafety Ambassador @NicoleDrought Two wins at @Mondello_Park means she takes the lead in the Open Clubman IRX championship & she was testing the @ebcbrakesuk Civic Type R at @DoningtonParkUK on Monday, ahead of the @MSVRacing season! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/ZkGM3yA3u4
— Siltex Safety (@SiltexSafety) February 14, 2024
There was no time for celebrations though, as Nicole was on a red eye flight to Donington Park on Monday morning to test the EBC Brakes backed Honda Civic which she will race in the MSVR Trackday Trophy and Trackday Championship series.
This was also her first time to meet the Motion Motorsport team, who will run the car at all races in 2024.
Speaking on the news, Drought herself mentioned that she was delighted that the late decision to enter paid off for her and her team.
"We are concentrating on the UK programme this year and the decision to enter the IRX last weekend was a late one," she says.
"POB Racing did a superb job preparing the car and as ever, it handled really well.
"To come away with two wins was a great start to my 2024 season, so we will definitely do the other rounds now. Happily, none of them clash with my UK MSVR dates!"
She also touched on some areas she would like to gain more experience in before the season starts.
"Monday was great- I like Donington Park and the guys from Motion Motorsport are really good," she says.
"We tested lots of different setups and we were right on the pace by the end of the day. We have a few more test days before the season starts and I think we can probably find more pace too."
Fresh from two @IRX_IE wins at @Mondello_Park at the weekend, @NicoleDrought was bang on the pace at @DoningtonParkUK yesterday ahead of her @MSVRacing season in the @ebcbrakesuk Civic! pic.twitter.com/swvH7IEqBu
— Motorsport.ie (@motorsport_ie) February 13, 2024
