A racing driver from Waltham Abbey came second in the first race of the inaugural Michelin Clio Cup Series last weekend with a sensational door-handle-to-door-handle battle during the opening race of the season.

Although Rob Gaffney, at the wheel of his self-prepared Meridian Motorsport Renault Clio racer, had to settle for runner-up at the Snetterton 200 Circuit in Norfolk, the Essex driver led for much of Saturday afternoon’s race.

Qualifying second on the grid for the opening race of the weekend, Gaffney beat pole-sitter Luke Herbert off the line and led through Riches for the first time but an unfortunate slide at the chicane at the end of the lap allowed Herbert to move ahead.

Determined to get the lead back, ex-Renault UK Clio Cup racer Gaffney re-took first place at the Esses on lap two and then defended for all he was worth as the Luke Herbert Racing-run Clio loomed large in his mirrors.

Gaffney’s defence looked impenetrable but on the 15th and final tour, Herbert got a fantastic run out of Riches and shot past Gaffney on the inside at Montreal to grab the lead and the win by 0.2 seconds.

“What you want to do is get out at the front and pull away from everyone but Luke [Herbert] was really quick, I couldn’t quite get that gap on him,” said Gaffney.

“There was a lot of pressure but I’ve learnt a lot from racing in the main Clio championship before. We’ve proven we’ve got a quick car and can prepare a quick car, I’m really pleased with the result.”

Unfortunately in race two on Sunday, Gaffney wasn’t able to replicate his heroics of the day before after getting caught up in opening lap contact which damaged his car and led to an eventual retirement on lap five.

The Michelin Clio Cup Series will return to action eight weeks from now with the third and fourth races of the season taking place at Croft in North Yorkshire on July 6 and 7.