HOCK, STIG AND AWAY

Nikemikerules and Posh Rob led the chase but had to settle for second and third at the end.

As the first three drove off into the distance, the rest of the field entertained the large crowd.  Maj was still in and around the the top 6, and so was CelticFox, the Pontaic now back to his liking on maximum Pi.  These two though were being joined by cars from behind.  Kinky had recovered from his second lap off and picked his way back through the top 10, and he bought ABigPieKey with him, who was flying in the KRR Nissan.  By half distance Kinky had made it up to 4th, 10seconds a head of PieKey who had been slowed by taking longer to pass Celtic and Maj.  Celtic’s good run came to an end on lap 30, the power steering had gone on the big American Car, and this had left the driver completely exhausted and unable to continue, such a shame after a good performance and battle.  This also left Maj with a lonely run.  The EmpireMSport team are doing a fantastic job with the Subaru, and Maj can be thoroughly satisfied with his 6th place finish.  PieKey was determined to catch Kinky, and piece by piece he was doing so, that when they arrived in to the stadium, with just over a lap to go, he sensed he could go for a last lap attack on the Cerberus run car.  Sadly he got it slightly to hot through Morrell turn and put the wheels in the gravel, the lost few seconds enough to leave the positions for 4th and 5th as they were over the last couple of miles.  Both drivers had driven through well, and were happy with the results.

7th was a lively affair throughout the race.  BMR Sutton and Basslinejunkieo had both started well down, but the later had charged through quickly in the opening laps, too quickly though, as contact was made with other cars.  The stewards have been keen to stamp out on the push to pass, but what happened next was seriously frowned on.  Bass had caught up to Pronag, and contact was made between these two, continuously, and the stewards decided intentionally.  A few drivers behind, had to go off or brake to avoid the contact, and a number of complaints were made after the race.  Pronag came off worst in this scuffle and dropped back, but Bass wasn’t on his own still, as BMR Sutton had caught him and these two had a magnificent battle.  Whereas the dice before had a lot of contact, the Lancia and Subaru overtook for fun, with little or no contact, and both did themselves credit in this dice.    This battle went on for a large part of the middle portion of the race, until Sutton found some slight breathing space and managed to get away.  He was another though that had caught the attention of the stewards, the Blue Nissan had been gaining an advantage by taking far too much grass and kerbs, and he was hit at the end of the race with a 30second penalty.  Sutton wasn’t happy, blaming the handling of the car, but the evidence was very clear and the penalty dropped him two places in the final order.  Bass should have taken advantage of this, but the stewards were unhappy with the driving of his and Pronag, and how it also impeded those behind, and both of these two were handed a one minute penalty dropping them down the final results.  There is now doubt in the last week that the stewards are clamping down.

So who ended up 7th?  Well it went to Major Raver.  Raver had driven well to get back into the top 10 by lap 8 from stone cold last, the little pink Alfa was the slowest car on the back straight, but was amazing through the stadium section, passing a few cars through the last corner.  He was very happy with the result.  He was kept honest for the second half of the race by Devil Lord.  Last week’s winner had started at the sharp end of the grid, but quickly fell back in 14th place.  After that his pace improved and he spent the race trying to get on passing terms of the Alfa, these two never far apart for the last 25 laps.  BMR Sutton ended up behind these two after his penalty, but ahead of the second Subaru of Empire.  Empire didn’t have the pace of his teammate here, but must have been very pleased with his first top 10 finish, and getting through the first lap unscathed.  11th fell to the first of the two Honda S2000, Robraceruk having a disappointed race.  Yes disappointed, not disappointing, the PG Tips sponsored driver not happy with some driving standards on the first two laps, and also some corner cutting, but equally unamused with the tyre wear issues that the little Honda seems to suffer with, that is slowing his pace over a race distance.  Team mate Mad ended up 14th, and third in Class A was at least some consolation for a rather lonely race.  Between these two on track was the returning Kenty.  Kenty looked rusty in the early laps, such was the lack of time in the car, but showed some good pace mid race, pace that might have seen him challenge for 7th place.  An off and damage cost him a lot of time, but he has set down a marker that as the variable Pi returns, and he gets some testing in, he will be a dark horse in some of the remaining races.