CHRIS Ward, sponsored by Newman's Footwear of Blackburn, was third fastest in Class B in the sixth round of the Formula Vauxhall Championship, part of the British Touring Car Championship, at Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the10-lap race, Ward stormed away to a brilliant start and fought his way into second place by the first bend.

He said: "The track was still wet although the rain had stopped and it was beginning to dry out with an easterly wind.

"So I decided to take a risk and put the slicks on. I knew that the start of the race would be difficult and it was but that the racing line would be dry by the end of the race."

It was an exciting test of driving skills with positions changing nearly every lap.

Ward started the last lap in second place just behind the Class B leader Stuart Moseley and was challenging for the lead when he went wide onto the grass at Knickerbrook and spun his car.

He managed to keep it going in the right direction and rejoined the race to finish third at the chequered flag. During the race Ward set the fastest lap in his class and was nominated the Vauxhall Driver of the Day.

He added: "I have had such a dreadful start to the season and it's only the second time I have finished.

"An intermittent electrical fault which has mystified all the experts had kept dogging me - I have been tearing my hair out.

"Every wire and every electrical component has been changed on the car and in desperation last week we changed all the fuel lines.

"Now that the fault seems to be cured I need to get some practice in where I can just drive without wondering whether the car will let me down.

The seventh round takes place at Snetterton on June 15-16.

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