And that is about the way it all happened, the drivers sticking closely to the plot. In Saturday's dry practice Ian Hetherington put his Specialised Cars'-prepared F50 on to a sensational pole, ahead of the hitherto front-running Stuart Bowler in the F40. Alan Cosby grappled with further transmission problems but started from third position, ahead of a brave John Pogson (F355/Ch), who was still smarting from his injuries sustained in the previous race.

Fred Moss (348tb) took a firm grip on the 'O' class pole and was a good half second ahead of Gary Culver's 328GTB. Usual class-winner Graham Reeder (F355) was, as always, lurking someway down the grid.

By race time on Sunday midday, the early morning drizzle seemed to have disappeared and a number of 'M' class runners had opted to change to slicks but began to regret their decision when the drizzle returned just prior to the formation lap.

At the green light, Hetherington's F50, running on slicks, shot into the lead but spun down the field by the time they reached Luffield and wisely headed for the pits and retirement. This left Andy Christopher (308GTB) in a lead he was not to lose until the final lap. George Christopher's GT4 moved into a temporary second place, ahead of Cosby (512M), with Stuart Bowler's F40 already dropping back due to the incompatibility of his slicks with the steadily worsening wet conditions.

At the half way point Cosby finally re-passed George Christopher to re-take second which then, on the very last lap, became first when Andy's car broke a cam belt and robbed him of certain victory.

In the midst of all this, Peter Lowe had moved his wet-tyred GT4 from 14th on the grid to an outstanding third place finish, an achievement which earned him the Psygnosis Driver of the Day award. Marco Attard became the first F355/Ch home in fourth place, after Pogson spun way down the field on his slicks, and Rory Fordyce brought his Testarossa home in fifth, having survived a coming-together with Bowler's F40 which led to the latter's retirement.

The 'O' class was just as exciting, with Fred Moss narrowly ahead of Gary Culver's 328GTB until a quick skid on the last lap reversed the order. David Wilkinson (F355) finished third and Graham Reeder's similar car had a very subdued race following a spin and the realisation that the 'O' class championship had already been won.

After the race, the rain had turned to stair-rod proportions and a large crowd of supporters squeezed into the Ferrari hospitality marquee to watch Goodyear's lovely Natalie present the Driver of the Day award to Peter Lowe.

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