12 Minis made the trip South to Lincolnshire and what a treat they were in for. If you ask anyone who has raced at Cadwell Park their opinion on the circuit, they will come out with the following adjectives; tight, technical, fast, unforgiving, difficult, exciting … It lives up to all of them. The setting is stunning with big gradient changes on a narrow track through beautiful woodland with none or little run off area and not even a hint of a gravel trap. A proper old school racing circuit.

 

Race 1

 

Thirlwall continued his great run of form to out it on Pole and claim the bonus point, Rowan was 2^nd with Sleigh and Knox making up row 2. Covey and Dryden rounded out the top 6. Rowan made the better start and edged past Rowan going into the fast 2^nd corner. Covey’s car bogged down at the start and Dryden nipped up to 5^th and Crocker (Who was driving the Guest car) also squeezed past Covey. On the second lap Willie Struth lost control going into the first corner and hit the barriers hard ending his race weekend. With the circuit being so tight there was very little space for overtaking so the top 4 drivers were playing a waiting game. On Lap 5 Dryden took too much kerb at the Mountain section and popped a driveshaft ending his race. Covey managed to pass Crocker finally and quickly pulled clear from him but he was not able to make an impression on the front quartet. Rowan drove a good defensive race and was awarded with his second victory of the season; Thirlwall was 2^nd, Sleigh 3^rd, Knox 4^th, Covey 5^th and Crocker 6^th. Rowan also picked up the fastest lap and bonus point for that.

 

Race 2

 

The reverse grid saw Gronkowski on pole with the fast improving Manio Loia 2^nd, Crocker 3^rd and Covey 4^th, Knox 5^th, Sleigh 6^th Thirlwall 7^th and Rowan back in 8^th. They got away from the lights well and got through the first section of corners but all hell was about break loose at the next corner when Finlay Crocker lost it going into the 4^th corner and spun in front of the whole pack. Thirlwall took to the infield grass only to find a big ditch which fired him into the air and on landing he removed his radiator and drive shafts he retired at the next corner. Sleigh took to the outside grass but rejoined unscathed. The safety car was deployed to clear up the mess and it was Loia who was heading the pack for the restart. Dryden had made it up from 12^th on the grid up to 7^th in just one lap and Waugh was in the pits trying to get a puncture repaired in time to rejoin before the safety car went in (very Days of Thunder) which they managed to do! At the restart Loia held on well and was not giving up any place easily. Knox got passed and Loia ran wide which allowed Covey and Rowan through. Sleigh caught Loia at the mountain and got passed at the top of the mountain but Loia tried to retake Sleigh at the hairpin. This pushed Sleigh wide and Dryden nipped passed Sleigh before the last corner. Dryden then pressed Loia hard and it paid off as Loia ran wide at turn 3. Dryden was able to make the pass on the exit of the corner. Knox was out in front but Covey and Rowan were not far behind. Dryden caught and passed Gronkowski to move up to 4^th on the last lap. Knox held on for the win, Covey nearly threw it away on the last corner running very wide and sideways but gathered it up to finish 2^nd, Rowan 3^rd and fastest lap, 4^th was Dryden , 5^th Gronkowski and 6^th went to Loia.