ST HELENS racing driver Chris Middlehurst was at Oulton Park at the weekend in the Formula Ford 1600 National Championship races in his Mygale Formula Ford single seater.

A previous Champion in two other race series as well as being recognised as a rising star at only 20-years-old, Middlehurst put in a creditable performance.

In the first of two races, from third on the starting grid, Middlehurst lost one place on the first lap but in a close race series with lots of challenging for position, had managed to claw his way up to second and was only 0.1 seconds behind the leader at the finish flag.

For the second race, from sixth on the starting grid, the competition was again tough with close racing and while he finished just one second behind the race winner, there were three other cars between them, so giving him fifth overall.