The team returned to Lydden Hill for the final round of the SEMSEC championship, it would also be the Clubmans final visit of the year to its ’home’ circuit. A fine autumnal afternoon offered ideal conditions for the afternoons race program.

Qualifying

As ever at SEMSEC meetings the field covered a wide variety of makes and models and the Clubman headed out into a busy qualifying session as part of an eclectic field. The session went smoothly for the Clubman with progressively quicker lap times being recorded as the Clubman found gaps in the traffic. The times recorded would see the Clubman lining up 3rd on the grid behind a Caterham and a Lotus.

Race 1

Standing starts are used throughout the season at SEMSEC meetings and once again as the lights went out the Clubman rocketed off the line and sensationally grabbed the lead on the run to Chessons for the first time. Successfully holding off the chasing pack through the corner the Clubman sought to edge away from the field.

The cars behind were soon embroiled in their own dogfight and the Clubman made good its escape quickly opening out a gap over the rest of the field. Throughout the remainder of the race the Clubman stayed at the head of the field managing the gap to its pursuers and taking the chequered flag to record a stunning outright victory in dominant style.

Race 2

Having taken the win in the first race the Clubman started from pole position for the second race. The run to the first corner saw the Clubman passed by the Lotus and a Starlet, the Clubman slotted into third position ahead of a chasing Mini. Quickly going onto the offensive the Clubman began to chip away at the Starlets advantage whilst keeping a watchful eye on the Mini behind.

The laps quickly wound down as the Clubman and Starlet continued to circulate nose to tail, each car unable to make a decisive move that would end the contest. With the two cars separated by inches the result was in doubt until the very last second, the Starlet just edging out the Clubman as the two protagonists took the chequered flag.

The team can be very pleased with another superb weekend for the Clubman, taking two class wins and an outright race victory. Once again the Clubman proved that around the tight confines of Lydden Hill it is a force to be reckoned with and can upstage significantly more powerful machinery.

Thanks to Mark Bidwell for the information and photos.