BROMYARD racer Nick Ad-cock came agonisingly close to his first ELF Renault Clio Cup victory but eventually had to settle for two second-place finishes at Croft, North Yorkshire.

The 41-year-old's Total Control Racing team-mate, Tom Onslow-Cole, won both races to make it six triumphs from 10 races this season.

Adcock now has 16 podium finishes to his name during his four years in the UK's premier single-make saloon-car championship.

After qualifying second for round nine and on pole position for round 10, he was hopeful of breaking his duck but found Onslow-Cole to be in fine form.

In round nine on Saturday, Adcock made a tremendous start and took the inside line at the first corner.

He opened a gap of almost a second before a mistake allowed Onslow-Cole to draw alongside him at the hairpin.

Although Adcock defended well to maintain his lead, it was a short-lived reprieve as the 19-year-old passed him at the same point on lap seven and immediately gained an advantage he would hold to the finish.

The following day saw Adcock start from pole position for the first time in Clio Cup racing. Yet again he made the best start and led Onslow-Cole on the first tour of the 2.13-mile circuit but luck was not on his side.

With the track already slippery due to the sweltering heat, damage to Michael Doyle's sump after hitting the kerb hard at the first corner left oil on two-thirds of the circuit and only served to make driving conditions even more hazardous.

As race leader, Adcock suffered most, with Onslow-Cole able to choose a quicker racing line through the Esses and pass his team-mate at Sunny.

Although Adcock briefly reduced the deficit, his young colleague posted the fastest lap of the race to pull away and take the chequered flag by 2.841 seconds.