Round 1 - The Infamous Cadwell Park

Race Report

A midnight arrival to the circuit and a freezing cold nose in the morning wasn't a good start to the season but it soon faded with the anticipation of Cadwells rises and falls.

A very pleasing qualifying saw me 6th on the grid next to Ade in 5th. The lights flicked off and I wellied it in first, the tyres gripping well. This jumped me forward between Lyford and Inch for entry to turn 1.... light contact with Inch on the outside (gave me that slightly sinking feeling after Rosies hard work smartening up the car over the last few weeks!) stopped me gaining any more ground but I was happy to settle into 4th by turn 2.

All was well for lap one, with a slight gap between me and Berney who had made it up to 5th behind. Berney got a tow down the start/finish straight and was tight up behind into turn one for lap two. Upon entry into the right hander he just tapped my rear offside which was enough to send me seriously sideways through most of the corner. I planted the throttle and pulled it straight(ish), taking about 15m of turf off the inside of the corner, rejoining in 7th after Polley, Lyford and Ade flew past. (Dave stayed behind... he he!).

Steady progress over the next 5 or so laps saw Berney and me catch the guys ahead and make up position. Three laps from the finish I was back in 5th fighting Berney off at every corner (sorry Dave!). The tyres were going off badly (over inflated me thinks) and I took to the grass a few times under constant pressure from Berney. Coming into the mountain complex Dave got alongside on the inside, about a third of a car length behind, I was just about to let him go when we both saw a yellow flag and Dave graciously backed off and let me through. This allowed me to fight him off for one more lap and finish 5th.

A really very pleasing finish to the first outing this year, matching my second best finish ever. Onwards and upwards as they say.