ST HELENS driver Chris Middlehurst’s fifth overall in race two made amends for an earlier setback in the competitive Formula Ford 1600 Northern Championship for post 1989 cars at Oulton Park at the weekend.

An uncharacteristic 14th for the first race, an excellent start saw him gain seven places on the first lap but from there it got harder.

By lap 11 he was up to sixth when an error resulted in him clipping a barrier with his right front wheel and bending the front suspension, forcing him to retire.

His car, with repaired front suspension, was more suited to the damp track that presented for race two and Middlehurst was keen to do better.

Starting from 20th, he was up to 10th by the end of the first lap and steadily climbed up from there to finish in fifth overall.