In Championship mode, when exactly does it save after a race?

Hi
When you finish the actual race in championship mode, at what point (or how) does it save?

Last night, I finished a race, waited a while (wondering how/if it had saved my progress), then pressed Exit, got back to the launcher and realised that the race haadn't saved and I'd have to do it again.

I'm getting a bit frustrated as variations on this problem have meant wasted time several times this week.

Any advice?