Qualifying was very competitive as always and some blistering times were being set. In fact the top 4 drivers were under last years lap record! It looked like that record was not going to last the day. Chris Knox put it on pole with a stunning 1:03.286 with Thirlwall just over a tenth behind in 2^nd, Covey was 3^rd and Gronkowski was just a 100^th off him on 4^th, Dryden was 5^th and Sleigh closed out the top six.

 

Race 1:

 

The race was going to be dry but, as always, at Knockhill the threat of rain was never far away. Knox and Thirlwall made good starts but Covey was sluggish away from the line. This allowed the fast starting Sleigh through who also over took Gronkowski and Dryden and he was 3^rd by end of Leslies. Dryden tried to go around Covey through Duffes but ran out of track and opted for the off road route and bounced across the infield but held onto 5^th place. Thirlwall pressured Knox but he seemed unflappable out front, further back Covey took Gronkowski up the inside of the hairpin and Dryden followed him through. Further down the grid Molinaro slid sideways in front of Waugh who was out in the Minis for the first time. Waugh had nowhere to go and turned him around and the helpless Molinaro was collected by another Mini newcomer Brandon. This ended both Molinaro’s and Brandon’s weekends. Meanwhile, Sleigh took the watching brief in 3^rd and got a great lap in to take the outright and newcomers Lap Record in a time of 1:03.063. He then got up the inside of Thirlwall at the hairpin to take 2^nd but Thirlwall snatched it back round the outside at Duffes with a really brave move which just came off and no more. Then disaster struck for rookie Waugh in his first ever race. He had climbed from 14^th on the grid up to a really respectable 9^th before spinning backwards from Leslies and hitting the tyres which resulting in the number 14 car ending up on his roof. Sadly that was the end of his weekend. The race was red flagged and the positions from the previous lap were awarded. 1^st Knox, 2^nd Sleigh, 3^rd Thirwall, 4^th Covey, 5^th Dryden, 6^th Gronkowski.

 

Race 2:

 

Finishing positions from race 1 were the grid order but the weather had taken a major change and it was now very cold and wet. Knox made another good start but this time Sleigh beat him to the first corner but his lead didn't last long when Knox repassed him up the inside of the hairpin on Lap 1. Sleigh also lost out to Thirlwall later in the lap. Dryden passed Covey off the line and slotted in behind Sleigh. The track was really greasy and all were having a real job keeping the cars on the black stuff. Covey got a run on Dryden coming through the chicane and retook 4^th at Clarks. Dryden then lost the back end at Scotsmans and dropped 2 places to 7^th. Rowan and Gronkowski were involved in their own private battle with Gronkowski getting the position. Meanwhile Thirlwall was all over the back of the Knox but again Knox was not for caving in under the pressure and he took his second victory of the day. Thirwall got the point for fastest lap and was 2^nd, Sleigh 3^rd, Covey 4^th, Gronkowski 5^th and Rowan 6^th.

 

Race 3:

 

The grid reversal was determined by a draw out of a hat and it was the top 5 that got reversed. This put Gronkowski on pole with Covey alongside, Sleigh in 3^rd, Thirlwall 4^th, Knox 5^th and Rowan 6^th. The racing that followed was full of drama and excitement with a great dice between Gronkowski and Covey who went 3 a breast at the top of Duffes with Thirlwall, but it was Thirlwall who pulled off the move of the day to pass both of them through the curves to take the lead. Knox was certainly trying but he found the traffic harder to get through but got up to 4^th before out-braking himself at the Hairpin. This relegated him down to 7^th but he did get the fastest lap in the process. Sleigh and Rowan came together at Clarks with Sleigh turning left instead of right due to some contact between the 2 cars. Sleigh rejoined in 10^th. This promoted Dryden and Rookie Kenneth Brewster up to 5^th and 6^th respectively. Thirlwall got the win and his 3^rd podium of the day, Covey grabbed a good 2^nd from Gronkowski 3^rd, Rowan 4^th, Dryden 5^th and Kenneth Brewster 6^th.