Driving ace Cliffe starts with a win
Tristan Cliffe, reigning Monoposto 2000 Champion, started his title defence with a win in the opening round at the newly extended Snetterton 300 circuit.
The Mulbarton driver (pictured) took second place during qualifying and lined up alongside pole sitter Matt Draper, confident he had the speed to challenge for the race win.
Both drivers got good starts and were challenging each other for position, but Cliffe made a small mistake at the Hamilton Corner, when a rear wheel touched the dirt, which was enough to spin him off the circuit.
He kept the engine running and rejoined towards the back of the field and after a few checks to make sure the car was healthy, started his charge towards the front.
A series of fastest laps saw Tristan rise up the leaderboard, and by lap four had clawed his way back to third place, behind Matt Draper in the lead, and Richard Purcell in second.
Purcell was caught and passed on the 6th lap, and Cliffe set about closing down Matt Draper.
On the last lap the two were neck and neck, but when the two cars came back into view through Corum, it was the red Dallara of Cliffe who was ahead, and kept ahead until the chequered flag. Cliffe was obviously delighted, punching the air as he crossed the line.
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Post-race, Matt Draper was eventually disqualified for a technical infringement, promoting Richard Purcell to second, and Tristan Cliffe's new team mate Tony Bishop to third, which Tristan was especially pleased with, as it was he and the rest of his Omicron team who had fully rebuilt Bishop's car over the winter.
Pictures: ANDREW CLIFFE
