Westbrook (BEAST Racing) fended off the challenge of Jason Templeman (Team VLR) to score a resounding victory as Jonathan Fildes (TCR) completed the podium.

“I can’t quite believe it, actually,” reckoned Westbrook. “I hope it’s like that all the way through the season, but I doubt it,” he said.

While Westbrook got the jump on the opening lap and Templeman chased, things were far from right for Tim Harvey (RPM Motorsport). Battling against a handling problem, Harvey was powerless to hold third and soon had a gaggle of cars snapping at his heels. First to go through was Fildes, soon to be followed by Chris Cooper (Team Parker Racing).

With Templeman still chasing hard, Westbrook saw his advantage reduced mid-race, but the leader had enough in hand to extend his lead again over the closing stages to score a classy victory. “I just went off into the distance,” said Westbrook. “Even at the end I was just able to pull out the gap.

” Templeman accepted that second was a strong start to his season. “It was a pretty simple race, I couldn’t quite pull him in,” he admitted. Fildes, too, was pleased to get his season off to a strong start having fended off the ever-present Cooper in a race-long battle for third. “The main thing was to get a good finish,” said Fildes.

Harvey managed to salvage fifth, but had the Red Line Racing duo of Nigel Rice and Jonathon Cocker always in his mirrors, while Andy Britnell (Motorbase Performance) was never far behind. Out of luck in a first lap tangle, however, were Des Winks (Red Line Racing) and David Pinkney (BEAST Racing).