The team returned to Brands Hatch for the latest round of the Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car championship, once again running on the Indy circuit.

Qualifying.

Light drizzle was falling from leaden skies as the Clubman headed out onto a damp circuit for the start of the qualifying session. The team had decided to send the Clubman out on slick tyres as the track did not appear wet enough for a full wet tyre. The early laps of the session proved tricky as the damp circuit provided little grip, however, the teams decision to send the car out on slicks was soon proved correct as a dry line appeared.

As the session continued the track conditions continued to improve and the Clubmans laptimes began to fall. The main obstacle faced by the Clubman was now traffic as another bumper entry ensured that the circuit was extremely busy throughout the session. The flag fell to conclude the session and the Clubman returned to the paddock having qualified 10th overall and 2nd in class.

Race 1

Rolling starts were once again the order of the day and as the pace car pulled into the pitlane the pack headed towards the line to start the race. As the lights went out the pack charged into Paddock Hill Bend, all cars safely making it through and jostling for position. The Clubman immediately latched onto the tail of the Mini ahead and began applying pressure as it sought a way past. Soon the Clubman was coming under pressure from a SEAT that had qualified out of position due to the track conditions, after holding the SEAT off for a number of corners the Clubman succumbed to its attacks and dropped back a place. The SEAT soon passed the Mini ahead and the Clubman renewed its assault.

The Clubmans continuing feints forced the Mini to go onto the defensive as it sought to hold off the marauding machine snapping at its heels, its defence of the position was shortlived as the Clubman scythed past to take the position. Once ahead the Clubman set about opening a gap to its rival, however, the Clubman was soon under attack once more, not from the Mini but a Peugeot 205 and SEAT – both of which were also out of position from the qualifying session. The 205 passed the Clubman but the SEAT was unable to find a way past as the Clubman valiantly defended its position. The cars crossed the line to take the chequered flag fractions of a second apart with the Clubman retaining the advantage and taking a class win.

Race 2

Starting positions for the second race were determined by the finishing positions from the first race so the Clubman would be starting ahead of its class rivals and looking to take another class win. Once again the pace car pealed into the pitlane and the pack charged across the line to get the race underway, again all cars made it through Paddock Hill Bend unscathed but at Druids there was some contact between cars ahead of the Clubman and they found themselves beached in the gravel trap. This immediately brought out the safety car and the field formed up in orderly fashion behind.

With the stranded cars removed the race got underway once more and the Clubman successfully held off an attempt by the Mini to pass. With this initial threat successfully dealt with the Clubman began to build a buffer back to the Mini behind. A Cosworth powered Escort latched onto the tail of the Clubman and was able to use its superior power to blast past the Clubman to take a position but the Clubman retained the class lead comfortably from the Mini behind. For the remainder of the shortened race the Clubman continued to manage the gap to the pursuing Mini and took the chequered flag to record another class win.

The team had a fantastic weekend with the Clubman performing faultlessly throughout and the team making a great call on tyre choice for the qualifying session. The Clubman took two class wins and also took the fastest lap in class reducing its best time around the Indy circuit in the process. The team will now begin preparations for the next round which will take place as part of the Lydden Festival Of Motorsport on the 6th of September.