Published: 18/05/2009
Round 2 of the EDC seen everyone head to Scotland as the event was being held at Knockhill Racing Circuit, one of Mark's favourite tracks.

Practice, on the Saturday, didn't start off well as the heavens opened and the track became quite slippery, but Mark ventured on, putting in as much track time as possible. Even with the wet conditions, he put in some quite good runs, with respectable speeds.

Race day on Sunday was better as far as the weather was concerned with the sun shining and the odd threatening cloud in the distance. As the practice session rolled on, there was nothing stopping Mark, except in the one run where as he approached the first downhill corner at 95mph, the bonnet of the 350z decided to pop up. Ever the professional, Mark managed to stop the car quickly and controlled, and no damage was done.

Into the top 16, and Mark was up against Paul Conlan. Both runs were perfectly matched and well controlled, with the run looking like something that would be seen in a final! Each was awarded 5-5 for their runs, and so it had to go one more time. This time, Conlan struggled to get through the first corner at a nice angle, but Mark still had to work hard for the win.

The top 8 draw saw Mark up against Kieran Cameron. The first run was quite evenly matched, but in the second run Cameron slipped at the second bend, ripping his bumper off in the process, and allowing Mark to power home for the win.

The semi-final was to be a tough run, as it was against Pete Barber, who was performing brilliantly all day. In the first run, Mark powered down the hill and the smoke pluming from the back of his car meant Barber was merely a shadow to the 350z, but Barber did have a slight advantage and was awarded a 6-4. In the second run, it proved to be the speed of the 350z that was its downfall. Chasing behind Barbers RX-7, Mark had to adjust his angles dramatically to shed speed and avoid a collision. This again gave Barber the advantage and Buff would then have to compete for third place.

In his final pairing to fight for the bottom podium step, Mark was up against some fierce competition in the guise of Phil Morrison. The first run was an amazing spectacle to watch, as the smoke poured from both cars. An even run saw each driver awarded five points. In the second run, Morrison had a rare, and dramatic, spin as he exited the first corner to give Mark the win.

So it was third place for Mark, which is a great result, but a result that he hopes to improve on at the next event.