Qualifying positions for Sunday were taken from our second fastest qualifying lap from the session on Saturday morning.  Luckily I remained in 9th place, as everyone else seemed to have struggled in the wet qualifying.

Despite the rain clouds threatening, the track was dry for the race, and I even had some supporters (thanks to my wife, Tash and Gav).  Nick Lear was in front of me again on the grid, and I feared another attempt at driving into the back of him, like the 2 on Saturday!  It was not to be, we both got good starts.  I don't think I had gone more than a car's length when Brett (41) overtook me from the row behind - I'd love to see some video footage of how he managed such a sharp start!  The first corner (hairpin) was pretty sensible, and we all made it around.  I was 8th by the end of the 1st lap, and then spent most of the rest of the race in a superb (but slow) battle with Rob Fitter (34), Nick Lear (70) and Dave Black (28).  Matt Cherrington (44) joined us briefly before spinning at the hairpin.  Our positions seemed to change almost every corner - it was real neck and neck stuff, without any contact at all.  Perhaps my most enjoyable race, and extremely tiring as we completed 17 laps in just over 20 minutes.  It seemed a shame to finish as low as 11th after such a grueling battle!

A few events stand out.  

At the end of Lap 5, I overtook Rob Fitter and Dave Black in one sweet move down the start/finish straight - I think they were so worried about their own part of the battle, that they did not see me coming!

On Lap 6, Brain Mitcham (64) drove me off the track at the back hairpin, forcing me on to the grass and losing me 4 places.  Gutted.  At least he admitted it afterwards and apologized, but I'd have preferred to have kept my place and the extra championship points thank you very much.

On the last lap, I almost overtook Nick and Dave, and went around the last corner side by side with Nick.  Down the start/finish straight we went - elbows tucked in, head down, and bouncing up and down to try and go a bit faster. No luck, Nick beat me by half a car!

Big Al won again, although this time, Brian got the fastest lap, a 1 min 10.65 secs, compared to my best ever 1 min 12.67 secs.  I hope to post some video footage of this race......