We had a mix of fortunes at Snetterton in August where again the CALM All Porsche series had another bumper 30 car grid.
After the disasterous performance in the wet a year ago year we were glad about the dry weather forecast for the weekend.
We qualified in P13 after being unable to improve our first flying lap due to oil on the track at the Bomb Hole corner and then the tyre wall being pushed into the middle of the track at Hamilton which also spread grass and dirt everywhere causing a localised yellow flag.
Mike was going to race both short 15minute sprint races, with Garry taking the longer 40m race on Sunday.
Race 1 Saturday
Mike got a decent start vs the cars around him and held his own around the first few laps.
Sensing two cars in front were earlier and more tentative on the brakes a move around the outside of the infield Agostoni hairpin nearly came off - but the door was firmly shut - nearly driving us off the circuit.
Mid way through the race, an opportunistic move up the inside at Oggies nearly came off, but a mis-shift on the exit let the car back through. However the pass was finally setup for the first corner where again we were much later on the brakes giving us an 11th place finish.
Race 2 - Saturday
Mike had to navigate a bumpy few first laps with cars driving aggressively to hold position. We picked up rear bumper damage and lost a few places to faster cars coming through the grid.
Mid race, with a clear track, his lap times improved and Mike reeled in the car in front making the pass on the last lap at Oggies again. A great drive to finish p10 and 6th in class after various retirements in front.
Starting P10 for Sunday's pit stop racegave us an outside chance of a class podium if everything went our way.
Race 3 - Sunday
Garry's start was immense moving up several places on the outside only to be hit side on navigating the first turn as cars inside were squeezed. The shunt caused damage to the sill and door and the lost momentum allowed four cars by. The second lap saw worse to come when cars braked early for the hairpin in front and caught out on the dirty line we hit car the in front.
Somehow the car still drove ok and Garry navigated through the field to 7th place as the pit window opened.
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Motorsport UK officials cast a probing eye over the front end at the stop, and although severely bent the bumper and bonnet were held firm in position by the bonnet pins and all three radiators seemingly undamaged.
The second half of the race was less eventful, Garry getting clear track and driving to the limit of the car and our ability posting consistent 2m13s laps. He was caught by faster 2nd drivers and finished P8 overall - 6th in class.
We are good second or two a lap off the fastest drivers and cars in our class so finished about the best we could.
We have just over 6 weeks to repair the car and ready it for our first European round at Spa Francochamps in October.
