MARK Wakefield will likely leave the weather man off his Christmas card list this year.

The Northwich driver, desperate to impress at Oulton Park - his home circuit - on Saturday afternoon, was thwarted repeatedly by rain falling at the wrong time.

The first MINI Challenge UK race was cut short by officials worried about the risk of cars slipping from a wet track on slick tyres.

Wakefield had qualified 13th, but climbed to seventh place – exclusively because rivals in front had accidents – before a red flag halted proceedings after only four laps.

“It was the right decision, no question,” he said.

“I had no grip at all, and there was no way I’d have tried to overtake.”

Nor had he raced in wet conditions in his new-for-2016 JCW class machine, and a test during a heavy downpour on Friday had proved of limited benefit on used tyres.

It did not help him solve a dilemma that followed later.

The heavens opened again with the field on track for a warm-up lap, prompting more than half of the drivers to return to the pits to change tyres – sacrificing their starting place on the grid – before the start.

Wakefield gambled, staying on slicks in the hope the shower would be brief enough for the surface to dry.

It had started to, but not quickly enough for a race reduced to 15 minutes.

He crossed the line 13th, setting faster lap times than rivals on the same rubber.

“I don’t have the luxury of a team in the pits that could have changed a set of tyres quickly,” he said afterwards.

“If I did, maybe I’d have reached the same decision as the others.

“But it wasn’t straightforward; had the race been the standard 20 minutes, then perhaps we’d have been proven right.”

Wakefield prepares the car on race-day with dad Nigel.

Away from the track, they spend time attempting to attract sponsors’ support to keep it running.

“It’s not easy,” said the Weaverham-based ace, who turned 19 on Monday.

“It’s pretty much me and my dad, and we graft to bring in what money we can to help.

“These cars are fantastic - so much fun to drive and advanced pieces of kit. But that makes them expensive too!

“I’ve spent this season getting used to a new one, and feel comfortable now behind the wheel.

“I’d love to have a proper crack at winning the championship next year, although that depends on whether we can raise the funds to do it.”

The series concludes at Snetterton, in Norfolk, at the end of October.

Northwich Guardian:

Nigel Wakefield, left, helped prepare son Mark's new-for-2016 F56 model machine for the MINI Challenge UK round at Oulton Park on Saturday. Picture: Mike Lyne/MJL Photos