RAY Witts threw down the gauntlet to his Formula On stock car rivals with a dazzling drive at last weekend's 'double header' at Swaffham and Northampton.

The Chorley driver, who put in an impressive performance in the opening World Championship qualifier at Coventry, stunned his rivals with three race wins at the Norfolk track and another at the Northampton Raceway.

His performance - all the more remarkable as he was using his new shale-specification car on unsuitable tarmac ovals - has put him ahead of reigning World Champion Frankie Wainman Junior in the prestigious Hoosier Tyre/Stoxworld Magazine 'Driver of the Month' table.

The result augurs well for Witts' chances of more success in tonight's big prize money event, the 'Best of Britain' meeting at Stoke's Loomer Road stadium - a fast, loose-surface track which has a habit of throwing up some unpredictable results.

For six-times World Champion John Lund, the long trip to Swaffham ended with his experimental new car out of the points and badly damaged following a clash with Shane Dorrell.

The Rapid Orange driver appeared to ram Lund's stationary machine after the chequered flag.

The damage was enough to force the Clitheroe driver out of the following night's action at Northampton, and completed a miserable evening for Lund, who appeared off the pace of the front runners.

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