As the days start to shorten and the winds and rain start to make a return after what seemed like an endlessly long, hot summer, we loaded up the support truck last weekend and headed due north to Snetterton.

Qualifying on Saturday saw John start in 3rd place for both the 1st and 2nd race. For race one, this was obviously as it was meant to be and John finished up on the podium in the position in which he started.

Race 2 was slightly better for the team as John gained a place and finished as runner up. Close, but not quite close enough.

Sunday’s racing though saw John start a bit further back in the field in 5th but with John enjoying his time on the podium so much the day prior, he soon carved his way up to finish 2nd, and that was even after having a nudge from a fellow competitor at the start. John made a complaint about the nudge, and after viewing footage of the incident, the clerk of the course concluded that John hadn’t been impeded…but had instead made a false start, and John was landed with a 10 second penalty, resulting in him again finishing where he started, back in 5th. John did still make the fastest lap time though…

Race 4 saw John start in 6th and again John lived up to his reputation of skilfully carving his way through the pack. But this time, his woes were mechanical after the truck hit fuel on the track which resulted in impact and a water pipe popping off and John showing off an impressive spin. However, with the water pipe off, John and his truck were recovered back to the paddock with a ‘DNF’ by his name for the race.

Race 5, and a 2nd place starting position gave hopes of optimism, until a collision with the lead truck firmly planted John in the barriers with a red flag being waved. Unfortunately though, the impact of the crunch damaged the front suspension and John had to limp home, after having restarted in 6th.

But the story for the final race doesn’t stop there. As well as John’s collision, it seems that fellow competitor Ryan Smith broke down first just on the finish line, just before completion of his 2nd lap. John’s collision was therefore the 2nd incident on the exact same lap. After an attempt was made to penalise John and Craig Evans for the race stoppage, John pointed out that Ryan actually stopped on the line first, resulting in a decision that race 5 points would not be declared as rule 1.6 of the regulations state: ‘A race of less than 2 laps will be declared null and void in accordance with Motorsport UK regulations and no points awarded’.

There’s now real pressure to try and get the truck fixed for the next rounds at Pembrey. The suspension damage is quite substantial, and it’s all the more ironic that it was as a result of damage sustained in what is a ‘non contact sport’ and for a race in which there was no winner. Nevertheless, whilst the truck may be dented and broken, but the resolve of John and his team to do what they can for the next race in 3 weeks time is as strong as it can be.