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It was almost like a return to 2009 with Luke, Jonathan Wright and Colin Millar topping the times in qualifying. All had new machinery for this season, Luke and Wright in PR6’s and defending champion in an SR3 RS.

Luke made a superb getaway at the start of race one, from Wright, returnee Steven Lindsay’s PR6, Millar and Paul Marsham’s SR3. Lindsay had caused some confusion on the parade lap, sprinting away from the pack. “I thought it was the start and what a good one I’d had,” he said.

Millar grabbed third on the exit of Deene, but was unable to shake off the persistent Lindsay initially, as Luke and Wright made good their escape. But Millar was quickly back to challenge Wright and briefly nosed ahead into Tarzan on the second lap. Marsham also had a look down Lindsay’s inside, but had to back off, which allowed Mark Boot to close in Wright’s former PR6.

Luke continued to press on with Wright having to defend from Millar for second. But out of Gracelands for the fourth time Marsham ran wide, but the momentum gave him a slingshot past Lindsay and into fourth at Tarzan.

Former Clubsport rivals Boot and Mark Abbott still found themselves battling in their PR6’s, Abbott got ahead on lap seven, but their battle had also allowed Darren Anley to close with his SR3. Boot and Anley shared a number of exchanges over the next few laps, which allowed Abbott to consolidate sixth.

It was all over for Marsham though on lap 10 when he spun off into the Tarzan gravel. “We were catching backmarkers, I went one way and then the other and lost it,” he admitted.

Luke eased through the remaining laps to take the win by 2.402secs. “Well I made a better start than last year and put in a devastating opening lap. After that it was straight forward,” he said. Wright managed to keep Millar at bay for second. “I made a bad start, but was never so pleased to see the chequered flag,” he reckoned. It may have been different if Millar had collected a puncture. “I thought I was on for second until the front tyre started going down. The new car feels more stable, but it’s taking a bit of getting used too,” Millar replied.

Lindsay consolidated fourth, “it’s two years since I raced on a track, as I have been doing grasstrack. Abbott was fifth and Boot finally held off Anley at the end, as Nigel Place started to challenge in his PR6.  The SR3’s of Steve Burgess and Rachel Davies completed the top ten and Andrew Harwood won the Clubsport class.

RESULT

1 Darren Luke (PR6) 15 laps in 20m17.096s (86.07mph); 2 Jonathan Wright (PR6) +2.402s; 3 Colin Millar (SR3 RS); 4 Steven Lindsay (PR6); 5 Mark Abbott (PR6); 6 Mark Boot (PR6); 7 Darren Anley (SR3); 8 Nigel Place (PR6); 9 Steve Burgess (SR3); 10 Rachel Davies (SR3). Class winners: Millar; Lindsay; Andrew Harwood (Clubsport). Fastest lap: Millar 1n19.801s (87.51mph).

It was the same pattern again at the start of race two with Luke, heading Wright Millar and Lindsay, chased by Boot, Anley, & Chris Hillaby’s SR3 RS.  The lead duo made an early break, but this time Millar didn’t follow. He was still third and clear of Lindsay, while Boot had Anley pressing him for fifth. 

The safety car was out for a lap when Marsham went off at the Esses and while the top four sprinted away again at the green flag, Anley successfully made the move on Boot for fifth.

Millar tried to stick with Wright but failed and came under an attack from Lindsay. His defence held firm as he mounted another challenge to close in on Wright. 

Having started well down James Abbott had shot through the order in his PR6 and by the end of lap eight he was challenging Boot for sixth. 

Although the top six held station for the remaining distance, some of the gaps closed considerably. Luke’s winning margin was reduced to a still comfortable 1m8secs over Wright. “The safety car closed it all up of course but I think I kept the gap decent. When Jonathan closed though I just put my foot down,” said Luke. “Darren’s start was phenomenal and my tyres were just wrecked. I nearly got into a position to challenge but he responded,” Wright replied.

Millar and Lindsay both took class wins again from third and fourth. “I made a few mistakes but I thought it was an excellent return and I made lots of progress,” Lindsay added.  Anley and Boot completed the top six and after James Abbott overshot Deene Hairpin on lap nine, Hillaby, Burgess, Mark Abbott and Richard Stables’ PR6 were promoted to round off the top ten.

1 Darren Luke (PR6) 14 laps in 20m21.834s (80.02mph); 2 Jonathan Wright (PR6) 1.803s; 3 Colin Millar (SR3 RS); 4 Steven Lindsay (PR6); 5 Darren Anley (SR3); 6 Mark Boot (PR6); 7 Chris Hillaby (SR3 RS); 8 Steve Burgess (SR3); 9 Mark Abbott (PR6); 10 Richard Stables (PR6). Class winners: Millar; Lindsay; Andrew Harwood (Clubsport). Fastest lap: Luke 1m20.064s (87.22mph).