After the bitter-sweet events of Rockingham, Alex Comis in the Mini Spares Super Mighty Mini came to Castle Combe with high hopes.

The Mayday Bank Holiday weather could not have been better with unbroken sunshine and temperatures hitting highs of 28 degrees: Welcome to the Mediterranean round of the Championship!

Qualifying and Comis were looking competitive from the outset. By the flag, he posted a time good enough for 5th place on the grid. From here, Comis felt a podium was within reach:

“I didn’t get a lap with any [aerodynamic] tow from another car along the long, long straights so I’d expect to be quicker in the race. It should be good!”

The first of 2 races was soon underway and the unmistakable sounds of Mini engine bursting into life signalled the start. Comis made a good start and was already fighting for third up to the super fast, off camber Avon Rise corner. As the cars funnelled through Quarry, Comis found himself back down to 6th with it all to do again. Ahead of him, places were changing seemingly every few seconds and Comis was soon to get in on the action. A quarter distance into the race and Comis started to pick off places. By half distance, Comis was not only in a podium position but 2nd and applying pressure on the super quick Greg Jenkins. With 5 minutes to go, Comis set up a brilliant move to take the lead on the exit of Quarry, heading to The Esses chicane. Now all Comis had to do was maintain that lead. Backmarkers, however, always add a nail biting dimension to events and this race was to be no exception: Penultimate lap and on entry to Tower, Comis got caught out giving Jenkins the advantage. The last lap saw Comis swarming all over Jenkins but by this point, all Jenkins had to do was defend. At the flag, Comis came home 2nd with fastest lap.

“That was a cracking race” beamed Comis after the podium. “I was watching the action from where I was. Being such a hot day, I was keen to just stick with the pack, rolling the car into corners and look after the tyres. The only real problem was getting caught out by a backmarker; they just half turned in so I had to back out as it wasn’t clear they had seen me, and that was that. Still, with reverse grids for race 2, I’m hoping for much the same.”

Race 2, and the back row seemed a long way from the lights. Comis made another epic start and had already picked off 3 places by The Esses. Now on the tail of the lead pack, Comis seemed to be employing the same strategy. By one-third distance, however, Comis was up to 3rd. One lap later, he was in 2nd again challenging Jenkins. This time, however, Comis and Jenkins were pulling away from the pack and giving the audience a gasp-inducing show. With 3 laps to go, Jenkins caught a backmarker on entry to the oh-so-fast Camp corner. Again a backmarker would play a pivotal role through this time Comis would benefit. Mid corner Comis had to adjust not only his speed but trajectory to take a tighter line on exit. With the car sideways and now right on the boot of Jenkins and the backmarker, Comis positioned the car with epic precision to slip up the inside of both cars with only a few centimetres to spare. The lead was now his, but again, short lived as Jenkins came back. On to the last lap and Comis had the leg on Jenkins up to Avon Rise and into Quarry. Up to The Esses, and Comis went defensive with another show of epic car control; drifting into the 1st apex to set the car up for the exit. Jenkins was not finished, however, looking up the inside into Tower. Comis had this covered though with 2 corners to go, it was far from over. Exiting Camp for the last time, the flag dropped for Comis 1st. P1 and Comis was clearly ecstatic!.

"That was amazing. Credit to Greg; in both races, we both gave each other just enough room. Excellent clean racing. To come from the last row of the grid to win is simply amazing. Again I was keen not to over heat the tyres and it really paid off. Brilliant!”

Rounds 7 and 8 move on to the epic track of Donnington Park on June 2nd and 3rd. Another circuit that has been good to Comis in the past.