GRANTHAM saloon car racer Rich Hockley made the long journey up to Knockhill for the second round of the Civic Cup last Sunday.
Making his first visit to the Scottish circuit, Rich took the opportunity to have some practice laps on the Saturday afternoon and was glad that he did. He found trying to learn the circuit in the wet hard work and the session threw up some serious handling problems with his Honda Civic that necessitated some major changes to suspension and set-up.
Rich continued to tinker with his race car on Sunday morning before he went out on circuit for qualifying in which he managed to drive to third on the grid.
The first race was a wet one. He dropped to fourth going into the first corner but held on to his place until the third placed drive pulled back and collided with Rich, sending him off the circuit. But he managed to get out of the gravel trap to cross the finish line still in fourth.
The impact damaged his front wing and headlight and bent the steering but Rich got the car out on the track for race two. He had a good start from P4 on the grid but the race was red flagged after a big collision saw one driver hospitalised.
Rich will be back in action in the next round of the championship which takes place at Brands Hatch on July 8, once he has sorted out his bodywork and a problematic gearbox.