Finlay Crocker was delighted to score his maiden podium finish in the TCR UK series at Croft, after following home fellow Honda racer Ollie Taylor to finish second in the final race of the day.
The Scot started the reverse-grid race from fourth and he had a clear run to the first corner after front row man Darelle Wilson failed to make it to the grid.
Crocker then found himself in second at the end of the opening lap, after also getting past the Hyundai of Lewis Kent and benefitting when Dan Lloyd retired from the race when a damper failed.
Crocker held on to the position for the rest of the race, despite stern race-long pressure from the older-spec Honda of Andreas Bäckman behind.
“I knew all along that we had the capability to do it, but we just really needed to get it all together,” said Crocker. “Sometimes things work in your favour and sometimes they don’t, and we benefitted from a second-place start.
“The car was mega; I always chuckle when I hear people stand up and come out with all the waffle, but the guys have put together a first-class car so I’m chuffed to bits with a 1-2 finish.”
The 48-year-old joked that now he has gained a first podium in the UK series that he just needs to improve his physical fitness in order to keep the strong results coming in.
Crocker also praised 23-year-old Bäckman for not making any dubious moves, with the race one winner ultimately having to settle for third.
“I know I can race, I just need to shed about three stone and get a bit closer at the front to start with!
“I would say my race craft generally has been one of my stronger attributes. I could see where he [Bäckman] was stronger and I knew where I was stronger.
“Getting out of the last corner was just killing me lap-after-lap and I kept thinking he was going to get my next time, but we just managed to keep enough of a gap in the right places.
“He could have had some crazy lunges, and some people would, and he didn’t, so I appreciate that.”