Snetterton in Norfolk was revisited for the final 2 rounds of the 2004 Super Mighty Minis Championship.

After a long and undulating championship I came to rounds 11 and 12 with height spirits knowing 3rd in the Championship was up for grabs. Qualifying did not go according to plan. Almost straight away I noticed all was not well; the car was bucking and noding like mule in a rodeo though the tight chicanes, and was a handful on anything other that a flat smooth straight track. On returning to the paddock, I discovered that the car has suffered a front suspension failure.

However, much to my surprise I had managed to qualify 5th on the grid. The break between Qualifying and the race gave me enough time to remedy the problem, but only just! The threat of rain loomed just that as we were called to the grid. Being 5th the pressure was on for a good get-a-way. As the red lights went out I launched out of my grid box like a mini-missile as I slowly drew in 4th place. With the snake of Minis hurling thought turns one and two, things were going quite well. Some minor interruptions from those behind saw me lose the back of the lead 4 cars and with half the race completed it would be tough to catch and overtake.

As the race drew towards the close I was not about to let any frustrations of being just too far back put me off reeling the leaders in. Smoothness and consistency was what I needed as I edged ever closer to 4th place. Unfortunately there was another variable I could not control, the number of laps left. As the ever-familiar chequered flag waved the lead pack of five of us crossed the line in formation. Race 2 was held on the Sunday. Again rain was forecast, but apart from a stiff wind there seemed little reason for concern. Starting from the finishing positions of the Saturday race, there was an eyrie air of deja vu as I greeted 5th spot on the grid for the final race of the 2004 Championship. Again another good launch saw me hold position for the all-important 1st corner. With no incidents it was time to focus on getting ahead.

As the laps went on the pressure from those behind was unusually strong and instead of scything my way though to the front I found myself under attack from those with me in their sights. As I turned into the chicane I received a hefty shunt from behind. Luckily it did not pitch me of the track, but from then on the car was a handful. Pressing on I was soon hounding down a whole host of places I let slip. Suddenly the heavens opened with a very brief shower that made things greasy. With cars travelling in all sorts of unusual directions and angles I was well on the road to recovery.

Then I made an uncharacteristic error as I miss-judged the breaking into the chicane in the damp conditions and ended up cutting out the corner and darting across the grass. This did not hurt as much as I was expecting as I emerged back on track in the same position. Pushing hard and now with the track dry again yet another blow to my efforts as the ignition failed on the fastet point on the track. Eventually I got things fired up and took the flag in last place.

Though this was not the finish to my best season that I had in mind, and though I missed out on 3rd in the Championship, this year has shown my potential. With the winter to sort the electrical gremlins that could account for missing 3rd place over all, the 2005 season should be a very interesting and exciting one for the Minispares.com car that finished the 2004 British Super Mighty Minis Championship in a splendid 4th place. For more information on the Super Mighty Minis Championship and the Number 41 Minispares backed car visit www.bcr-motorsport.com