DUTCH SUPERCAR/MOSLER CHALLENGE: Assen 2nd-3rd August 2008

A decidedly damp Assen was the venue for the latest round of the championship. The TT circuit saw the welcome return of the Woodcock brothers, whose Mosler had been back to the Rollcentre factory for a sprinkling of pixie-dust.

Whatever it was, it seemed to do the trick as they qualified in ninth place, significantly better than on previous outings. Berry van Elk, meanwhile, seemed to be really getting the measure of his Mosler as he bagged fifth spot. Only a yellow-flagged lap denied Martin Short pole position, settling for second instead as he made the most of soft tyres on a rapidly drying track.

Race one saw Short set off in hot pursuit of the DTM Audi. He seemed to struggle for race pace, though, with the penalty ballast from Hockenheim weighing heavy. The Woodcocks were starting to look good in their ever-improving car and Berry van Elk was still keeping his nose in contention.

Eventually, Nicky Pastorelli pushed his Passat past Short. But as one Mosler fades, so another seems to shine; Berry van Elk was on a charge, stepping up through the field to challenge the ETEC Viper for second spot. Sadly, Berry overcooked it and ended up gravel-wards.

As others dropped out, the Moslers found themselves back up towards the head of the pack. Martin Short held out for fourth overall and the Mosler Challenge win, Gary and Michael Woodcock took a very credible seventh and Berry kept it together to bring the BlueBerry Mosler home in thirteenth.

Sunday brought rain, rain and more rain. With the 55-strong grid shod on wets as they assembled for the race the almost-inevitable happened - the rain stopped. Cue a mad rush to fit slicks. Then the rain starts again! Cue a mad rush to, er, do what? Many of the field plumped for grooves again, but a certain Mr Short seemed to know better. He took to the grid on intermediates, despite not too much in the way of clear sky seeming in the offing.

The choice (gamble?) paid instant dividends, though, with Martin pushing up to second from fourth by turn one. Gearbox rumblings, though, seemed to slow his progress. Both other Moslers took him early on as the weekend seemed to be finally taking its toll on the factory car. But Martin Short didn't get where he is today by sitting at the back and complaining... as the weather stayed drizzly, so his intermediates came into their own. The pretenders to his Challenge crown were hunted down and dispatched as Short surged back. He went on to take third place - yet another podium finish for the factory car - and therefore another first place in the Mosler Challenge. Berry van Elk struggled in the closing stages and failed to finish whilst the Woodcocks put in a magnificent drive to take fourth overall.

These results put Martin Short on the top of the Mosler Challenge and second in the overall championship. As the season moves on to Zandvoort in September, it's good to see the Woodcocks looking competitive, van Elk remaining eager and Martin Short doing what he does best - wringing out the results!