JAKE Honour concedes that winning the Michelin Clio Cup Road Series title could now prove too difficult as he comes to terms with the knock-on effect of his first-ever crash.

The 22-year-old, who lives in Rowde, began his race career by converting his road-going 2.0 litre Renaultsport Clio 197 to compete in the inaugural Road Series last year.

Honour is currently second in the standings at the halfway point of this year's series, after two victories and two other podium finishes during the first six rounds, but his trusty Clio is in need of serious repair following a crash at Donington earlier this month.

He admits his car may not be ready for rounds seven and eight at Brands Hatch on July 26-27 and has already turned his thoughts towards moving up to the Race Series class next year.

“You don't really think about what happens 'if' you crash – it's more 'when' you crash,” said Honour, who grew up in Melksham.

“I was going well (at Donington) but a guy in another class started spinning next to me and when he hit me, it caused the car behind me to go into me too.

“When I took the car to the body shop, they said it was in one of the worst states they'd ever seen.

“It needs a new shell and a total re-build and when I went into the gravel, that snapped the cam belt, so the engine got damaged too.

“It will be costly and I'm going to have to up to Jade Developments a few times to get the work done.

“I'd love to be back for the next round but I'm not too sure that I will be.

“The guy who's top (Anton Spires) won the race where I crashed and I think he's too far in front of me now.

“I'm still going to get back and do as many rounds as I can because it's all good experience.

“I want to look into doing the Race Series next year but that's going to be a step up.”

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