THE champagne corks were popping for Lancaster's Tom Boardman after he mastered the daunting high-speed curves of Hampshire's Thruxton circuit to take a well-deserved second place in round five of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship on Monday.

And the bubbly proved the perfect tonic to banish memories of sitting out the previous two races because of a crash.

The talented teenage racer knew the most important thing for him during the BTCC bank holiday Monday action was to simply cross the finish line to bolster his points position - especially after a technical hitch left him at the back of the starting grid for round five - and he achieved his target and achieved it in style.

While several other BTC Production class drivers around him were getting involved in ram-raiding each other, 18-year-old Boardman showed maturity beyond his years to steer clear of trouble on Britain's fastest racetrack.

He flashed past about four of his rivals at the start, then steadily picked his way through the melee in the 15-lap event to cross the line second in his Edenbridge Racing BMW 320i.

He said: "It was a really good race.

I was disappointed to be starting at the back but that helped me out because I was able to watch the clashes happen in front of me and stay away from them.

At the end I had to defend my position from Spencer Marsh (Honda Accord) which meant I couldn't attack James Kaye (Honda Civic) for the lead.

But after missing out at Oulton Park two weeks ago I was just glad to finish the race so I'm delighted with second place."

In round six (25 laps) his challenge for a second podium finish of the day was thwarted after he was forced to the back of the grid again (when his car wouldn't start for the formation lap) and he was hit from behind in the early stages.

Despite the setback on the grid, another good getaway at the green light saw him slice through the back-markers to begin the fight for the top spots.

However, on lap six he was run into at the entrance to the chicane and put off the track.

The incident damaged one of the BMW's rear wheels and Boardman was forced to ease his pace to ensure he made the finish.

He kept the car going and eventually claimed a respectable sixth place.

Boardman, of Forton, said: "The damage was a real shame because I knew I had a good chance of getting in the top three again.

It was just one of those racing incidents though.

We were both going into the corner too fast, trying to outbrake each other, and he hit me.

Unfortunately that ruined my race."

His sterling efforts to drag his wounded car over the line, coupled with the excellent second place earlier in the day, leave Boardman sixth in the BTC Production title chase - just ten points behind the top three.

He hopes to progress up the table even further when next out on track - rounds seven and eight at Silverstone on Monday, June 3.