Fresh from a Personal Best lap time and a 1st Place podium finish at Cadwell Park, MMT Performance driver Clive Hopwell arrived at Donington Park full of confidence, momentum, and determination to continue his winning form.
As always with British motorsport, the weather can be a prime factor in a win or a loss. However, one thing quickly became impossible to ignore… the relentless heat. With trackside temperatures soaring to a blistering 32°C throughout the day, both drivers and machines were pushed to their absolute limits in some of the most demanding conditions seen so far this season.
Session 1 got underway in brutal conditions, but Clive Hopwell wasted no time settling into the circuit. Pushing hard from the outset, Clive delivered an impressive new Personal Best lap time of 1:16.155, securing an outstanding 1st place in class.
With ambient temperatures continuing to climb, heat management quickly became one of the biggest challenges of the weekend. The Direnza Vortex Intake and MVT Intercooler package worked relentlessly to keep intake temperatures under control, helping the MK8 Golf R maintain consistent performance despite the punishing conditions. Even so, the extreme heat turned every session into an uphill battle, with most competitors only able to push for a single full hot lap before backing off for multiple cool-down laps to recover both engine and tyre temperatures.
By the time Attack 2 arrived, the temperatures showed absolutely no sign of easing. In fact, the afternoon session proved to be the hottest part of the entire day, with the intense heat continuing to punish both drivers and machinery around the fast and demanding Donington Park circuit.
Despite the challenging conditions, Clive once again delivered an exceptional performance behind the wheel of the MMT Performance MK8 Golf R. Battling soaring intake temperatures, reduced grip levels, and the constant need to manage mechanical stress, Clive laid down an impressive 1:16.224 lap time, securing yet another 1st place finish in class to continue an incredibly strong weekend for the team.
As the day reached its climax, attention turned to Super Attack, the headline session that ultimately decides the overall event standings and where drivers leave absolutely everything on the table. After a full day of relentless heat and demanding track conditions, both driver and car faced one final push around Donington Park.
Despite the punishing temperatures continuing well into the final session, Hopwell delivered another strong and consistent performance in the MMT Performance MK8 Golf R, stopping the clocks with a 1:16.772 lap time. Against an incredibly competitive field and in some of the toughest conditions seen all season, the result secured an impressive P2 finish in class to round off another successful weekend for the team.
So that’s Two rounds complete in 2026 and 2 solid finishes. Both at tracks with their own challenges, but both conquered. Next up is Brands Hatch on June 14th . We look forward to supporting MMT Performance throughout the 2026 season of Time Attack UK.
