The team was at Lydden Hill once again for the final rounds of the SEMSEC season with the Clubman on duty once more. The day was overcast with light rain falling as the meeting got underway.

Qualifying

The Clubman headed out for qualifying on wet tyres with a plan to come into the paddock and switch on to intermediates if track conditions improved during the session. After some sighting laps to gauge grip levels the Clubman started to up the pace and the lap times began to fall. As the session progressed the rain stopped and the circuit began to dry so the Clubman ducked into the paddock for the tyre change.

Returning to the circuit after its impressively quick tyre change the Clubman set about establishing the available levels of grip on the intermediate tyres. This soon proved to be a fruitless exercise as the rain began to fall once more tipping the circuit conditions beyond the capabilities of the intermediate tyres. The Clubman ended the session having set the 3rd fastest time lining up on the grid behind a Clio Cup car and a Cosworth.

Race 1

The weather had worsened by the time of the first race with a strong wind and heavy rain battering the circuit. As the lights went out the Clubman rocketed off the line and surged into the lead, the Clio was soon in hot pursuit as they made their way around Chessons for the first time. The leading pair had opened up quite a gap to the Cosworth in third but the turbo charged machine went off at the Devils Elbow and that brought out the red flags nullifying the race.

With the rain continuing to fall the grid re-assembled in their original positions ready for the second start and as before the Clubman held the lead into Chessons for the first time. The Clubman was soon under pressure from the Clio and the silver machine found a way past the Clubman on the run into Paddock. Having seen the Clio make a move the Cosworth replicated the pass making full use of its power advantage to pass the Clubman. Pressure on the Clubman was soon coming from a BMW that had closed the gap whilst the Clubman diced with the Cosworth. The BMW closed onto the Clubmans bootlid but was unable to find a way past as the Clubman stoically defended its position to take the chequered flag ahead of the BMW and 3rd overall. This became 4th after the race as the Clubman was harshly adjudged to have jumped the start but this did not effect the class result with the Clubman still taking the victory.

Race 2

With starting positions decided by the result of the first race the Clubman would start the second race from the second row. Another superb start saw the Clubman once again holding the lead as the field exited Chessons for the first time. The Clio was once again snapping at the Clubmans heels and the Cosworth had gone with them as well – the three cars running inches apart as they sought the advantage. The Clubman valiantly held on at the head of the field as the Clio and Cosworth squabbled behind. The three cars ran around Chessons side by side and rounded the Devils Elbow still three abreast – something had to give and the Clio dropped a wheel onto the treacherously slippery grass and span off leaving the Clubman and Cosworth to fight on.

After holding off the Cosworth for a number of laps the Clubman succumbed to the more powerful machine as the Cosworth powered past. From this point onwards the Clubman was untroubled and had a clear run to the end of the race taking a fine 2nd overall at the flag.

The team can be very satisfied with their days work, the Clubman performed well throughout the meeting in difficult weather conditions and took two class wins as well as a brace of top three finishes in a competitive field. The team will now prepare the car for the final rounds of the Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship.