Qualifying
Out on a dry track had my closest gap to pole this season with less than 4/100ths of a Second between us. The car felt great, I felt on it and was exited about the races ahead.
Race 1
Got of to an OK start but Oly Mortimer’s was better and he led into corner 1. At the Chicane Oly got it a bit sideways scrubbing speed allowing me to go alongside and arriving at the next turn side by side after trading a few blows in the process. I tried to squeeze him to the inside but was unable to carry enough speed to make the full pass and after a couple more bashes we arrived at the hairpin alongside with me still on the outside but another car inside me. I manage to get the squeeze on 3rd place and exited still in 2nd place.
Several laps of nip and tuck followed but I couldn’t find a spot to pass Oly who seemed to have the door closed at every place possible. The battle allowed Covey in 3rd to close in forcing me to defend the final corner of the last lap where I finished in 2nd place with Covey less than 2/10ths behind.
Race 2
Starting from 2nd on the grid Oly got the Hole shot again and a close battle ensued for the next 5 laps until I was awarded a drive though penalty for hitting the floppy marker twice at the Chicane. After my drive through I had dropped to 12th with 2 laps left to go and battled on to close the gap but was unable to make up the time and finished in that spot scoring zero points.
I was really annoyed with the penalty applied which effectively ruined a very close race where I thought a good chance of the top spot was on.
Race 3
Well back on the grid in 12th place the race started and I made 2 places round the outside of turn 1. Another place round the outside of the harpin then another on the inside of Leitch at Scotsman and I was in 8th. On lap 3 I got up the inside of Carol Brown at the hairpin and was on to the back of Geoff Gillies and very close to the leading pack. Geoff made a few mistakes and was blocking hard which slowed us both down until I found a way past at Carlube but by this time the gap to 4th was considerable. Unfortunately I ran out of laps and finished 5th to Rory Butcher in his return to the Mini Cooper Cup.
Results
Qualifying 2nd
Race 1 2nd
Race 2 12th
Race 3 5th
Next Round Oulton Park in Cheshire July 31 2010

