MARK Wakefield hopes a maiden victory in the Volkswagen Racing Cup can inspire a change of fortune at the end of a challenging debut campaign.

The Northwich driver produced his best performance of 2018 on Sunday at Croft – a circuit he hadn’t driven around before a test 48 hours earlier – when he stood on the podium at the end of both races.

“Perhaps you have to experience the lows to appreciate the really sweet moments,” he reflected afterwards.

“And this was definitely one of those.”

The 21-year-old carved his way through the field to fourth, from ninth on the grid, before the first race was halted following an incident ahead of him on track.

He was rapid off the line again after the restart, and climbed to third after a move inside Ruaridh Clark at the hairpin behind the wheel of his Team HARD Racing Golf.

He lapped significantly faster than Owen Walton’s Audi TT in front for the remainder but ran out of time to challenge for second spot.

Wakefield saved his best for the day’s second race, completing an audacious pass at Tower - which took him past Darron Lewis (VW Scirocco) and teammate Jamie Bond (VW Golf) - to take the lead on lap five.

He then charged clear, setting the fastest lap too, to cross the line more than three seconds clear of Lewis.

Mark Wakefield takes the chequered flag at Croft behind the wheel of his Team HARD Racing VW Golf last weekend. Picture: Jakob Ebrey Photography

"I knew I had the pace so I just kept my head down and made sure I didn't make a mistake," added Wakefield.

"There was a quite a gap to the cars behind me, and I was able to manage it pretty comfortably although the closer to the end you get your heart beats faster!"

His previous best result was sixth - a position he has occupied at the end of races at Rockingham, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park - on three previous occasions.

And he returned to the podium's top step for the first time since a victory in the MINI Challenge UK's campaign curtain-raiser at his home circuit at Easter in 2017.

“I was desperate for that first win,” he added.

“Now I’ve got it, I just want to sign off for the season with a couple more good results in the final round.

“It’s s boost to my confidence to prove to myself, and to everybody else, that I can compete at the sharp end in this series.”

Wakefield has risen to 12th place in the drivers' standings ahead of the series' final round at Donington Park.