Scorching sunshine, some really close and competitive racing was the order of the day at Knockhill on Sunday.

 

Qualifying was once again really tight with Kenneth Thirlwall using every inch of the track and more to clock up the first ever sub 63 second lap. Behind him and a place he was to get used to today was Chris Knox. Dryden and Rowan who were trying to make amends for a slow start to the season both qualified well in 3^rd and 4^th. Sleigh and Gronkowski filled row 3 with last years champion Vic Covey lining up alongside Manio Loia on Row 4.

 

Race 1

 

Thirlwall got away cleanly from Knox in 2^nd with Dryden pushing him hard. Meanwhile Rowan had lost a place to the fast starting Sleigh and Gronkowski also managed passed Rowan. Knox harried Thirlwall but he was not for giving up the lead. Dryden took the watching brief in 3^rd. Rowan re took Gronkowski and set the fastest lap of the race chasing down Sleigh. Thirlwall took the victory with Knox nailed to his boot lid and Dryden was equally nailed to Knox’s. Sleigh was 4^th with Rowan in close attendance. Gronkowski was 6^th and Covey closed out the top 7 with mystery driver Skid Marxs coming in 8^th.

 

Race 2

 

The front 4 drivers all made good starts and held position but Rowan was not so fortunate, he lost a place to the fast starting Gronkowski. The front four pulled a bit of a gap but it wasn’t too long before Rowan got the better of Gronkowski. He then set his sights on Sleigh and after some great close racing, Rowan was through again. The front 3 were battling hard and Thirlwall was making Knox use the slower lines for most corners. Dryden and Knox both tried moves but they didn’t come off. This allowed the fast approaching Rowan in for a last ditch effort at the last corner. Sadly for Michael Rowan this didn’t turn out too well as the front 3 had braked late already and Rowan just couldn’t get the car slowed down. Dryden let him up the inside and he piled into Knox taking away all his momentum with it. Knox recovered to 2^nd and Dryden retook the near stationary Rowan for 3^rd. Rowan held 4^th with Sleigh 5^th and Gronkowski was 6^th. Skid Marxs held off the struggling Vic Covey who had a gear box problem for 7^th place. Rowan again picked up the point for fastest lap.

 

 

Race 3

 

The gird was reversed back to 5^th place which put Sleigh on pole with Rowan beside him, Dryden took up his usual 3^rd place spot, Knox was alongside him in 4^th with Thirlwall in 5^th and Gronkowski 6^th. Sleigh made a good start and led Rowan into the first corner. Knox and Dryden were level through Duffes and Knox lent on Dryden who had the inside line for Scotmans, after the contact Knox just squeezed through into 3^rd. Knox then passed Rowan at the hairpin and set about chasing down Sleigh. Knox tried an ambitious move up the inside of Sleigh at Carlube which resulted in contact and Sleigh running wide and dropping back 4 places. Knox took the lead but Rowan was making him work hard for it. Knox looked to have out braked himself at the hairpin and Rowan nipped up the inside to take the lead. Dryden and Thirlwall were also having a battle royal with Thirlwall passing Dryden at the exit of the chicane when Dryden ran wide. Dryden not settling for this fought back and retook Thirlwall at Scotsman. Thirlwall made a great move at Clarks to pass Dryden but on the last lap Dryden went up the inside of Thirlwall and nipped the place on the line by 9 thousandths. It was Rowan who took the chequered flag though and Michael was thrilled to take his first win in the series after 2 seasons trying. Knox’s move on Sleigh was deemed to be unfair and he was served with a 10sec penalty which dropped him back to 8^th place. This elevated Dryden to 2^nd and Thirlwall to 3^rd Sleigh recovered and picked up 4^th with Gronkowski 5^th and Skid Marxs finished ahead of Covey in 6^th. Thirlwall picked up the fastest lap point.

 

Top 10 Championship positions:

 

Thirlwall                       88

Knox                            76

Dryden                         56

Rowan                         53

Covey                          53

Sleigh                           51

Gronkowski                 45

Pearson                        19

Brewster                      11

Loia                             10

 

The Minis head to Cadwell Park for the next 2 rounds of the Championship on Saturday 13^th June.

 

Thanks to the pictures from www.motorsportphotographic.com and Jim Moir