Round 1: Castle Combe, 23 March

Terry Holmes began his title challenge with victory in the opening round at Castle Combe, where snow flurries gave way to rain.

Holmes was the fastest qualifier and nailed his first run to take an unassailable lead. Terry Graves took his Gould into second place, his best ever run-off result, despite the engine cover bailing out on his second run.

Third went to Scott Pillinger in the homebuilt DSP, the top two-litre machine. Graham Harden, the top 1100 runner, took a fine sixth in the tiny Jedi while veteran Bill Gouldthorpe posted his best ever Top 12 finish in seventh.

Results1 Terry Holmes (3.5 Lola-Judd ERH) 121.13s2 Terry Graves (3.5 Gould-Cosworth DFR GR37) 123.91s3 Scott Pillinger (1.3t DSP-Suzuki/SBD) 129.20s

Provisional championship standings1 Terry Holmes12 points2 Terry Graves113 Scott Pillinger104 Mark Smith95 Steve Miles8