The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Andy Molsom secured his first-ever pole position in the Caterham Graduates Racing Club at Donington Park as he stormed to a pair of top four finishes.
Saturday’s qualifying session went well, and saw the Spalding racer – of Molsom & Associates Optometrists – top the timesheet for the MotorsTV live televised race later in the day.
Amazingly, the top six cars were split by less than 0.5 of a second – so the race was expected to be fast and furious.
Molsom made a great start, and led into the first corner. And, despite constant pressure from behind, he continued to lead until near the end of lap four, where Toby Briant took the lead.
That move pushed Molsom wide at Coppice, which dropped him back to fourth position.
Unfazed, the South Holland ace was soon back in second spot, pushing Briant for the lead.
By this time, the first four Caterhams had broken away from the rest of the pack. After lots of position shuffling over the final few laps, Molsom was unlucky when, on the penultimate lap, a spinning backmarker in the middle of the chicane forced him over the high kerbs.
That dropped Molsom down to fourth, where he ended the race – just a tenth of a second behind third place.
Sunday’s race saw Molsom line up third on the grid.Despite engine gremlins on the green flag lap, he again made a good start
Pushing hard, the three leaders went into the chicane side by side, but it was Molsom who came out in the lead.
Much jostling for position followed over the next lap, but Molsom again was back in front by the main straight.
By the beginning of lap four he was in second place, but a line of oil from the final chicane all the way to Redgate and through Hollywood and into Craner Curves made for a slippery exit into the gravel for leader Briant.
An intense four-way battle commenced for the lead, with Molsom leading for the majority of the remaining 15 laps. Unlucky again at the final corner, where yellow flags were being waved to signify no overtaking due to a car in the gravel trap, Martin Kay beat him by centimetres to the waved yellows.
A short run to the chequered flag saw Kay snatch the win, with Molsom finishing in second place.
Molsom said: “Starting on pole position for the first time in front of a live TV audience was slightly daunting.
“However, I got away well but was unlucky towards the end of the race. Fourth is still a good result, so I am pleased. It was an excellent weekend, I was on the pace straight away.
“I had some minor misfortune, but came away with two good results and my first pole position.”
