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.