For the third time this year Luke Caudle fell one short of his hattrick, when after two wins, an issue with his turbo over heating left him trailing Chris Knox.

The first of the weekends races had to be red flagged within yards of the start.   Steve Liquorish and Roger Grimshaw were both casualties, “I had hoped my comeback was going to last more than 300 yards,” said Grimshaw. Also off in a separate incident was Knox, but he was able to make it back for the restart.

Caudle got away cleanly from Jason Richardson and Chris Oakman, but into Camp for the first time Oakman darted into second, with Lee Allen inches behind.

Chris James ousted Allen a lap later and for the next few laps they were constantly swapping and changing. Their battle was for third place after Richardson had a wild off on the grass opposite the pits, which gave the lead duo some daylight. “I did that last year, all sideways through Camp and thought not again, but held it this time. It was wet though last year,” said Richardson.

Lee Sullivan latched himself on to the third placed duel too, but kept a safe distance as they battled on.  But on the 10th lap James came bouncing across the grass exiting Camp and lost considerable ground.

It had been fairly easy for Caudle as he took the flag with over two seconds in hand. “It was a good start and I looked after my tyres. It’s never really easy, as I kept thinking about other things, like how hot it was in the car,” he said.

Oakman was even more secure in second place 12 secs clear of Allen. “”It was a bit lonely but a good result and it shows we put the car back together properly after Pembrey,” he said.

S Class rivals Allen and Sullivan completed the top four from the recovering Richardson. James held onto sixth from Knox, who had some handling problems after his earlier off.  “It could have been better, but I just had to be courteous on the early laps,” said Allen.

Craig Freeman had a fairly solitary run heading Chris Smith home in ninth and Kevin O’Connor snatched 10th and the Club Class on the last lap after honours had been fairly even with David Ogden throughout the race. “I got caught up on the way into Tower, Kevin slotted in and I went wide, so he got me,” Ogden explained. “I will take any opportunity I can get, “replied O’Connor.

Justina Williams, Sam Osborne and Sarah Parsons finished in fairly close formation behind, with debutants Tom Wood and James Ketchell completing the finishers.

Race Two

From the word go Caudle stamped his authority on the first of Sunday’s races, even though the track was still drying. Oakman had second again from Allen, but Sullivan had a fight on straight away, with Knox and Richardson in his wheeltracks for fourth.

The lead trio started to pull away when suddenly it was all change behind. Knox had taken fourth, but he was followed through by Smith, who had charged past Sullivan and Richardson on the same lap.

The lead pair had both consolidated their positions after five laps, but behind it was nose to tail with Allen just holding off Knox and Smith. A lap later Allen gave both his challengers room to continue their fight for third overall, “It was comfortable for me, so I got out of harms way and just did what I had to,” said Allen.

But Smith showed his intentions and was not satisfied to sit behind Knox. He not only outgunned the Scot on lap eight, but then set about closing down the gap to second placed Oakman. 

Caudle had enough in hand to record his second win of the weekend, but Oakman had his mirrors full of the charging Smith for the rest of the race, just holding on to his second place by 0.7secs. “That was a bit more exciting,” said Oakman. “I didn’t expect that either. Things just clicked and I had a go, but didn’t want to end up in the wall on the last lap,” Smith replied.

Knox secured a safe if not disappointing fourth, “no power and a bent damper I think from yesterday’s race. I was struggling out of the corners,” he explained.

Allen retained fifth and a comfortable S class win, while his closest rival Sullivan lost sixth to Richardson with three laps to go. Freeman had another lonely race into eighth, but behind him the Club Class went down to the wire again.  O’Connor had led the class initially, “I got hit on the back wheel and it spun me into the field,” he explained. Williams joined the mix with Ogden and looked to be heading for her first class victory. “I allowed an S class car through and braked too much, so David caught me and got me into Quarry,” she explained.

Osborne also demoted Parsons for third in class on the last lap, with O’Connor fourth from Wood, Ketchell and James’ S class following a pitstop.

Race Three

No one has managed to take all three wins in a weekend and there was to be no exception on this occasion. Richardson had drawn pole position and succeeded in his aim to lead from the start, “that was the best 15 years of my weekend, I had a power problem in a straightline and they gave me pole,” he said.

Knox was soon in front from Richardson who had Caudle paying him close attention. James had made a flying start but was quickly under pressure from Smith, Oakman and Allen. Caudle ousted Richardson on lap four and immediately latched himself onto Knox’s tail.

But on lap three the top five all closed up again, after Smith and Oakman had both taken James.

Caudle was all over Knox at every opportunity and while Smith and Oakman consolidated their places, after Richardson slipped further back, Allen nosed ahead of James, with Sullivan and Freeman line astern behind.

Richardson‘s power disadvantage left him unable to defend and he continued to lose ground. But at the front Knox’s lead suddenly began to grow and after taking Smith for third on lap six, Oakman was able to drive past Caudle a couple of laps later. “The turbo got hot, it left me about 15mph down on the straights,” said Caudle.

But Knox was unable to ease up, he held onto the win but only just as both Oakman and Smith came with late charges on a the one lap sprint that followed three behind the safety car. All three took the flag covered by only 0.529s, “what a great weekend and only got one wheel mark on the car,” said Oakman. “His sentiments were echoed by Smith, “great, no real problems but had to put my hand out to straighten the mirror after one touch with Chris,” he said.

Caudle still held onto fourth from Richardson and triple class winner Allen. But James took second in class after Sullivan ended his race in the barriers. Freeman took ninth and O’Connor celebrated another Club Class win, having led throughout, despite Williams paying him close attention.

Wood and Parsons both had the legs of class championship leader Ogden on this occasion, and Ketchell completed the finishers.

Published by Peter Scherer for Mini Challenge, July 20th, 2010