Thanks Tony. I have just put out a newsletter expanding on this. The AES handicap final race with 22 on the sheet had spread of just 30 seconds from flag drop to last away.

The final Arrows grid also with 22 cars had a 70 second spread and as you know, this was the first day that anyone had ever beaten the provisional 1:13 speed bar.

Putting this is perspective, we started off with a speed bar of 1:12 - OLD Pukekohe track in 1996... and that was generally 10 seconds from the Hampton Downs times, so an initial 1:22 at HD would have been the break out. Now that is almost the breakout for the AES group!

Tyres have improved out of sight over recent years and led to quicker lap times, rather more than any other performance modifications. Maybe the classic scene is going to have to look at tyres that may well be DoT rated but not 100% road legal and suspect in wet weather, as apparently they have no lateral grooves to dispel water. Are they in fact outside the spirit of the regulations?

Should the H & C Commission investigate this and make a ruling or a guideline?