The day began under a blanket of fog, but spirits in the paddock were high. It wasn’t long before the sun broke through, setting the tone for the opening round of the new motorsport season.
A packed schedule brought a wide variety of grids to the circuit, from the Junior Saloon Car Championship through to Britcar endurance, alongside the ever-entertaining Pre-66 and early 2000s touring cars.
The Junior Saloons, with their Citroën Saxos, were the perfect way to start the day. The energy and enthusiasm on display from such a young field was impossible to ignore—clear proof that the future of motorsport is in safe hands.
The Pre-66 grid delivered its usual spectacle, with Minis battling Cortinas and thundering American muscle. Watching them slide through the Foggy Esses never loses its appeal, before charging out onto the straight in full flight.
Courtesy of Jason Brown/ Reu Automotive
Britcar provided the headline race, although it quickly became a stop-start affair dominated by repeated safety car periods. Pole-sitter Tom Walpole, in the KTM X-Bow GTX, found the wall early on—one of several incidents that kept the safety car busy throughout.
Courtesy of Jason Brown/ Reu Automotive
Despite the interruptions, Dean Burden controlled the race well to take a comfortable victory. However, with mixed grids and staggered pit strategies influenced by the constant neutralisations, piecing together the final order proved a challenge in itself.
Courtesy of Jason Brown/ Reu Automotive
The CTCRC Pre-93, Pre-03, Boss and Thunder grid was another highlight, packed with a diverse mix of machinery all fighting hard from the outset. Once again, the safety car made multiple appearances, underlining just how competitive the field was from lights out.
All in all, it was a strong and entertaining start to the season—an action-filled day at the circuit and a great way to kick off the year for Pitlane.
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