A maiden podium in the TCR UK Touring Car Championship during a greasy final round at Donington Park left Stewart Lines elated after realising the CUPRA’s potential.
Lines fought back on the exit of the Old Hairpin after losing third to the Volkswagen Golf GTI of Andreas Backman through the Goddard Chicane a few corners previously, before passing Maximum Motorsport team mate Swift for second as the latter dropped back.
He then put in a sublime defensive performance to fend off newly-crowned Champion Dan Lloyd and seize the runner-up spot, with Josh Price a clear winner ahead in the Honda Civic FK2.
“My team mate [Carl Swift] was driving brilliantly, and then all of a sudden he started defending and brought the others into the pack, so I had to make a move on him,” explained Lines.
“I was quicker in places and losing it in others, but I made sure I made up ground down the Craners Curves, it was a bit lairy – I think I nearly crashed about seven times!
“There was no grip out there. We changed the setup and the car was as loose as a goose, but it was quicker, so I just hung on to it.
“It was a game of chess at the end, but well done to Josh Price – he just drove away and left us.
“It’s good to end the season on a high; we’ve been threatening podiums but had a bit of bad luck, or contact in the wrong places. We’ve always had decent pace, but this time it’s come together.”