MARK Wakefield declared himself happy after matching the pace of more experienced rivals during the MINI Challenge UK second round at Brands Hatch.
The Weaverham-based racer was eighth and then 12th in two races at the Kent circuit after qualifying inside the top 10.
“That’s more like it,” he said afterwards.
“It’s a more positive meeting than the previous one; I was on the pace and setting similar times to the guys at the front of the field.”
Wakefield, behind the wheel of a new-for-2016 F56 model in the series’ leading JCW class, recovered from a slow start in the first sprint to cross the line eighth.
He was faster when the lights went out for race two, climbing as high as sixth on track before a power steering fault forced him down the order.
He added: “That was annoying, because I’d made a great start. But I scored some good points and my confidence is definitely boosted.”
The series resumes at Silverstone later this month.
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