FROM THE PITLANE News - Cadwell 2016

We like Cadwell. You know that. We love Cadwell. But we've never won here. Come close a couple of times, most notably perhaps in 2014 in a hilarious fight with Steve Primett's Mk1 Escort.

So it was inevitable that with Cadwell on the calendar we would shake off our winter slumber, tweak Helen's perky rear, and set about the rematch. Improvements to the handling, and brake balance, held promise.

A frustrating test day found gremlins, but Helen finally ran clean and true with 35 minutes left in the day. Cadwell is a familiar, but daunting challenge. However many laps I do here, I will always be a little bit afraid of her. But that respect is healthy, she is a violent, unforgiving animal. Utterly addictive.

Qualifying put the Jag second to the pesky Eskie. Again. Half a second in it. A repeat of 2014's chase seemed to be on the cards.

Wheelspin off the line spoiled the plan to steal the lead on raw horsepower into turn one, but unlike the last time we played this game Primett was unable to hold the middle of the road down the back straight, and Helen led the opening lap.

A tight, defensive drive was overcome when Primett pulled an audacious move into the Hall Bends, the crowd at the cafeteria sure that the Ford was about to turned into sculpture as the Jag/Ford combo went side by side.

The Escort's bravery was undone by a wheel on the grass exiting Charlies, and Helen roared ahead to take her first ever win at Cadwell. Stealing fastest lap in the process only added to the unexpected joy of our afternoon in the park.

Slightly adjusting the track furniture is now customary.

Race 2 was harder. Helen hooked up and fired into the lead off the line, a lead she never relinquished. Wide and defensive for much of the race, the surprise was that the Jag actually had the edge on raw pace, and the gap crept up until it became decisive. A new fastest lap of 1.42.2 on the final tour marked our fastest ever recorded lap of this tarmac nirvana.

A double win at our favourite track, after years of trying, and we did it in style. Two wins, two fastest laps, against tough and skilled opposition. All we could ask for.

Cadwell baby!

Jesus Steve, I hope you're right about this...

Primett redefines what we thought was possible at the Hall Bends