After the long winter break, the Super Mighty Minis Championship got underway at one of the finest drivers’ circuits; Cadwell Park.
An unseasonally warm April weekend greeted the drivers with the early morning sun beckoning as the cars hit the track for qualifying. Alex Comis in the number 41 Mini Spares car was looking strong in the early part of the session, though a stricken car causing waived yellows put the end to any further fastest laps. With limited green flag running, Comis would start from 5th place for the 1st race of the weekend.
“It was going well. I got into a good rhythm and was building up to a couple of flying laps when the yellows came out.” Explained Comis as he cooled off in the Paddock.
“I’m a bit disappointed, but I know the [starting] position isn’t representative so it should be a good race.”
The first race of the season was soon upon us. With the start sequence underway, Comis got a fantastic launch and made a place off the line. Lap 3 and Comis was up to 3rd and closing on the Kirkpatrick brothers, David and Nev, who had stretched a slight lead. For the next 7 laps, Comis hounded David in 2nd place. On to the last lap and Comis got a great exit out of Charlie's 2 on to the Park straight. With David defending hard, Comis had to go to the outside. With both cars hard on the brakes, it was a game of the last of the late brakers. David held the apex, but as he exited wide, Comis was able to exploit the undercut. With both cars running towards the infamous Goose Neck, Comis was the one ahead. Defending hard, Comis did all he could to hold position to the flag for a brilliant 2nd place and fastest lap of the race.
“That was hard work” beamed Comis once out of Parc Ferme.
“I got a great start and even though I got boxed in [I] still managed to gain a place. Getting 3rd was a dive on the brakes then it was the Kirkpatrick’s who are far from easy to pass. The last lap was just perfect timing to get the undercut on David and then I just had to defend every last corner! Getting fastest lap is great for the points, too.”
Race 2 got underway in the same baking sunshine that had graced Cadwell all day. With a reverse grid and a tight track, this was going to be an interesting race. Yet another cracking start and Comis made up a couple of places off the line. By the end of the first lap, he’d gone from 7th to 3rd! By lap 3, Comis was in 2nd place and sandwiched between David Kirkpatrick leading and Nev in 3rd.
On to lap 5 and Comis seemed to lift through the ultra fast Coppice corner. This gifted 2nd place to Nev on the Park straight. Now in 3rd, Comis was becoming a headache for the Kirkpatricks. As the laps unfolded, there was nothing between the 3 of them. On lap 7 Nev had the run on David along the Park straight. With David taking the defensive line, it was again a game of the last of the late brakers. With both cars side-by-side as they went for the brakes, contact was made lifting Nev onto 2 wheels and out of contention. Comis had the momentum but David managed to cut back and hold the lead. For the next 3 laps, Comis did all he could to make life difficult for David and was never more than a few tenths behind. On to the last lap and though The Mountain and Hall Bends, Comis was swarming all over the back of David's car. Through Barn corner and on to the straight for the last time, Comis had the run and pulled along side David as they both sprinted to the flag. With almost nothing in it, Comis came home 2nd by just 1 tenth of a second, but crucially gaining a point for another fastest lap.
Back in the Paddock, Comis gave us his take on a hectic race:
“That was another cracking race. I had a sudden loss of power for a brief moment early on which gave Nev the advantage, but when they (Kirkpatrick's) made contact, I thought I’d have the legs to get ahead of David, and I so nearly did at the flag. Still 2 second places and 2 fastest laps is a pretty good way to start the season.”
Rounds 3 & 4 move on to the hallowed ground of Silverstone on the 1st June.