So all change again, this time the sprint race will be both classes together on the track, the cynic inside says that this is to cover up small numbers for the touring class but it could be interesting - and it was. So on a bright (if cold) Bank Holiday the Hare and Hounds race began. From the start it was obvious that we have two of the finest racers in the sport with Yvan Muller and Jason Plato. No quarter was asked or given between them throughout with each trying to outbrake the other, particularly into the chicane. (A great viewing spot in my opinion.)

With the tourers through safely the entertainment began. It was an interesting sight to see somebody driving across the bonnets of two others on the chicane exit. Don't ask me who just watch the TV pictures on Saturday. I shall. The result left Peter Cate stuck against the wall with a gearbox that sounded like it still had lots of forward gears but no reverse. Eventually he got it off the wall and continued to finish, good man at least in tin top racing you don't need all four corners of the car intact to finish.

Two battles developed the catching and passing of the rest of the field and who was going to be the first Vauxhall to do it. The handicap the Tourers got was not quite enough as they passed the leading production runners a couple of laps from the end and so had only their own battle to resolve. A good win for JP and excellent spectacle for the fans.

It was nice to see the new Lexus for the first time it looked good, sounded wonderful and was reliable, please Lexus how about a full team soon - Matt Neal would make a good choice and is available......

Oh yes, the Peugeots. They get the prize for the most unreliable cars on the track, or did they have a homing beacon which switched them to the pits every time? Please Peugeot, what went wrong. Now if you had kept Matt Neal and his very experienced team..............who knows.

FEATURE RACE

The rolling start shows that people do learn, about one cigarette paper separated the back of James Thompson's car from the front of Jason Plato's, so with Yvan alongside in 2nd grid position he couldn't squeeze in. So after the complex we saw the normal order from the sprint race, Jason followed by Yvan followed by the two Egg.com cars. After two laps of this a strange phenomenon was noted a beautiful looking Alfa driven by David Pinkney battling it out not with the tourers but the production class cars. This must be soul destroying yet at least it kept going unlike at Brands Hatch where it stopped twice. I do hope the team gets this car sorte; it attracts admiring comments wherever it goes. Once again the Lexus kept going and scored points on its first outing - well done. Unlike the Peugeot team which once again resorted to learned behavior and dived into the pits at every possible occasion.

Watching the four front runners through the chicane was interesting, the two works cars hit these very high kerbs part way on them but the two Egg.com cars kept hitting them hard and seemed unsettled each time, perhaps there are lessons to be learned? Talking of hitting the kerbs, the B&Q car driven by John B&Q (don't ask!) seemed to have a problem, perhaps the steering didn't work but going right over them every time!!! Still it was entertaining and proved the strength of the Honda Integra it not it's cornering ability.

So how was the meeting? Well from a spectator's point of view better than expected, the sprint race was the better for the changes, but Peugeot will not be happy! Roll on Oulton Park

Ken Jones