The season has started with such frantic action that the opening two races are done before I’ve found my way back to the office! I am of course defending the title this year which means running the coveted number 1.

Things started really well at Silverstone in April with pole position for round 1. The car was little changed from last year, although the once a season thrill of feeling all that power and grip after 5 months denial was as good as ever.

I got a peach of a start to lead the field into Copse for the first time, and headed through Maggots flat out. I held my advantage through Becketts and onto the back straight before coming under attack for Brooklands. The chasing pack fanned out to four abreast and having provided a tow for seemingly everyone I was passed on both sides falling to third place. Worse was to follow.

Into Brooklands for the second time, the attack was now literal, and I was struck on the nearside front wheel by the car of Mark Sims that itself had been hit and was spinning across the front of me! It was a big hit, my steering was deranged and the car was pulling heavily to the left. I nearly diving straight into the pits, but thought better of it. I had fallen to 12th place but with no further deterioration in the car I started to think that perhaps I wasn’t punctured.

So I started to push again and the remaining ten laps passed in a blur of frenzied activity. The lead quartet were locked in furious battle and the lead appeared to be changing at every corner. They were inevitably holding each other up and once I’d risen to 5th place I began chipping away at the gap. It took until the end of the 11th lap to join in the battle. Into Becketts for the last time I grabbed 4th. Under the Bridge into Brooklands I briefly considered lunging for the inside, a risky move for the lead. I’m pleased to say I thought better of it – it would have ended in disaster for sure!

So I settled for 4th and a strong haul of points from a difficult race. The car has the pace – I need to keep it out of trouble! Next stop Snetterton, the slip streamers delight, which calls for tactics and cunning.

Once again we were greeted with fine weather and a bumper crowd for the first Dunlop Great & British weekend. There was plenty of road Minis along for the weekend to create a real festival feeling.

Qualifying was once again pretty good and I took the chequered flag that indicated the end of the session with the second fastest time and expecting to start from the front row once again. What I didn’t anticipate was for both Colin Peacock and Tony Le-May to improve their best times on the last lap. Consequently I was dumped down to 4th place!

So, from the second row I made a careful start and held 4th place for the first lap. It was clear that this would be a 6 car battle for the lead and with 15 laps to run there was no need to rush! The prevailing wind meant that the aerodynamic tow from a car in front gave you an opportunity to slingshot past that car , or even two if you got the timing right – and I was rehearsing the move ready for the last lap when it would count!

I took my turn at leading, only to be passed within the same lap, confirming my feeling that the last two laps would be the ones to get right. However, as a group, we allowed Kelly Rogers to escape! In a brief moment when we were falling all over each other he suddenly build a lead large enough that he ceased to offer the aerodynamic tow. If he could keep his rhythm going the rest of us would be fighting for the runners up spot. And that’s exactly what he did.

Starting lap 14 of 15 three of us were left fighting for 2nd place – Colin Peacock, Andy Hack and myself. Ideally you wanted to be 4th but right up close going out onto the back straight for the last time. That’s exactly where I was at that moment. A bit like a snooker player planning two or three shots ahead, you’ve got to anticipate!

Colin lead our 3 car train, Andy pulled out of the toe to ease alongside – increasing the tow effect for me! This was it; I drew out alongside the pair of them but on the outside. Inching alongside and ahead as we reached the braking point it was a do or die moment! I hung on grimly round the outside, taking a gentle rub along the way and gathering up a big resultant drift just in time to brake for the next corner and claim second place! Two corners left through which I took no chances, and that was it – the best feeling 2nd place I’ve ever taken! I’m feeling pretty well set up for a great season.

We are only able to race this year thanks to the support of Mini Spares Centre. If you are a Mini Spares customer, come and find us in the paddock and say hello!

Race dates are to be found on www.billsollis.co.uk .