Paul raced an ex-James Kaye/David Leslie Honda Accord from 1995’s Official BTCC (now prepared by Outpace Racing). In soaking wet conditions Paul set the race’s third fastest lap outright as he came through from 17th on the grid to finish seventh as the top ST2 class runner for drivers in older ‘Super Touring’ machinery.
“Many drivers have gone on from the Clio Cup to achieve big things in touring cars – after 15 years finally I got my break,” said Paul. “Qualifying I never got a go because it was a wash-out behind the safety car so the race – on a soaking track – was the first time I drove it at speed.
“We started right at the back so when the safety car came in and the race was on I was already about 29 seconds behind the leaders. To then lose only another six seconds to them in those conditions while having to overtake ten other drivers – plus the fact they know the cars and their cars were the quicker, later machines – made me very happy. My fastest lap was also quite a bit quicker than the four in front of me.
“You can see why the Super Tourers were so special. The engineering that has gone into it – even for something in the mid-Nineties – is astounding. The balance was perfect which gave me the confidence to attack. I’d love another go, preferably in the dry.”