However, although the day started positively with him claiming fastest in class during qualifying, it ended in disaster on the last lap of the race as he was involved in a frightening and violent accident.
 | | Ollie fending off Class A attention |
The Ford Saloon Car championship began it's season in sunny but blustery conditions and Oliver Allen driving his Ford Fiesta began his defence of the overall and Class C championship in perfect style by setting the quickest lap in class, by 0.316 of a second from Simon Green, and 12th overall out of 24 qualifiers. The race saw Ollie in the the thick of the action from the off, duelling with cars in the class above before settling into a comfortable class lead on the track. Entering the last lap, the class win and a great start to his championship defence looked to be on the cards but on the approach to Shaw's Hairpin confusion reigned. As Ollie was being lapped he inexplicably speared into the barrier on the outside of the track. His Fiesta was launched into the air and, as it dug into the grass on landing, was thrown into a series of sickening rolls.
 | | Ollie's Fiesta at rest after the crash |
The battered car finally came to rest on its roof against the kerbing on the inside of the corner. Ollie seemed to be out of the car almost before it had stopped rolling and received immediate medical attention trackside. Miraculously, though very shaken and suffering from bruised ribs, Ollie appeared to have suffered no serious injuries though the same can't be said of his car. Despite finishing the race upside down, Ollie was still credited with the class win, and fastest race lap, due to the fact the race ended under a chequered flag rather than a red one. The leaders crossed the finish line while Ollie's accident was happening which resulted in a lap count-back procedure. Ollie now faces an uphill battle to repair his car for the next championship round at Snetterton on 9th April, 2006. | 
