Another dominating drive from Bruce Winfield saw him pick up 25 points and extend his Milltek Civic Cup title lead. The Area Motorsport driver diced with teammate and championship rival Alistair Camp in the early stages, commanding his position around the Silverstone circuit and continuing his perfect weekend.

Winfield made a strong getaway, holding off an immediate challenge by fellow front row starter Camp, running side by side with him into Maggots. The championship leader was wise to the move and after Camp acquiesced the pair immediately broke away.

No-one could touch the pair, with Winfield also securing the fastest lap as he maintains his 2020 record of winning the opening race of the weekend. As a result, Winfield now holds a 26 point lead over Camp.

The action was backing up in the battle for third as Max Lewis lead a chain of six after the opening lap. The biggest mover had been Martin Dalzell, leaping three positions and diving on Lewis into Copse as the field ran into the second lap.

Lewis was wise to the move, cutting back and allowing Paul Taylor back into fourth. Further back, George Alp-Williams and David Buky made contact into Luffield, dropping the latter back four positions.

Courtesy to the Civic Cup’s competitiveness, the action would continue throughout, with the focus once again turning to the battle for third. Taylor was not shy to maintain the pressure on the Thruxton race winner, both holding each other up as Alp-Williams took the opportunity to close back in during the closing two minutes.

It would come down the final lap with Lewis holding on for third, as Taylor maintained fourth, despite Alp-Williams attempt to out-drag him to the line.

Upon his return to the series, Dalzell recorded a respectful sixth place and will be in prime position to challenge for a podium in race two. He was chased all the way to the line by Jamie Tonks unable to join the fight further up and despite his contact, Buky recovered to finish eighth.

Rounding out the finishers, Ross Darlington finished ninth having proven his defensive prowess against Paul McHugh, picking up his best result of the year. Damian Harris completed the finishers as Sam Barrett was forced to retire. Bradley Lane was unable to make the start.

Speaking after the race, Winfield said;

“Ali was giving me a run for my money at the start and was all over the back of me. I made a little mistake into the complex and had to defend, but managed to make a little bit of a gap and came away with first place. It was great to drive away after the start, you see the Civic behind you get smaller and smaller.

There was a section in the middle of the race, where he started catching me again and he seemed quite consistent, so I think he was catching me a little again. So I concentrated on what I was doing and focused on not making any mistakes. It’s all about maintaining that gap.”

Race two will be livestreamed on Milltek Civic Cup’s YouTube and Facebook pages, courtesy of AlphaLive and the BRSCC.