PAUL Rees, of Oxford, lies ninth in the 2008 Formula Palmer Audi Championship after the opening three races at Donington Park.

Rees, 22, finished 11th, 13th and seventh in the 14-lap races at the 2.5-mile Leicestershire Grand Prix circuit yesterday.

He trails early FPA points leader Jason Moore (Bedford) by 37pts.

Rees had started the opening race from pole-position but made a slow getaway and then was tapped into a spin.

The Formula Palmer Audi series in its 11th year and feature identical single-seater racing cars powered by 1.8-litre turbocharged Audi engines.

The next two races in the eight-round series are staged at Brands Hatch in Kent on May 2-4.