Twin wins in the driving rain brought Weston-on-the-Green driver Graham Fennymore and his Ambitions Racing Team a slender early points lead in the Autosport Caterham Superlight Challengeat Donington Park.

Fennymore, a winner nine times from ten starts last year on his way to the Caterham Roadsport A crown, made the most of the tricky conditions to claim what were the maiden UK championship wins for the new Cosworth-powered Caterham.

A sudden change in the weather did its best to dampen proceedings in Saturday's opener, but the Superlights nevertheless staged a superb show in the driving rain with a four-car battle for victory for much of the race and several changes of lead.

Fennymore was a deserving but slightly fortunate victor, race-stopping red flags bringing a premature end to proceedings after a deluge had sent him, and others, careering off the track.

Fennymore's Taylor Made Joinery-backed machine started from the pole and he made an excellent start to the race in the dry, but when the heavens opened on lap two, Fennymore was powerless to prevent a determined Rachel Green and her Fauldsport Superlight from seizing the lead.

She stayed in front for two laps before Fennymore managed to fight back to the top, Fennymore then pulling out a second's gap as Rachel fought off the attentions of reigning champion Will Mitcham and Ben de Zille Butler.

A fascinating battle was brought to a premature close by the rain which, on the 16th lap, became a deluge. Both Green and de Zille Butler slithered off track, Green slipping to third and de Zille Butler to eighth, as Fennymore struggled not only to keep his lead but also simply to stay on the track. Race organisers decided that enough was enough.

Fennymore said: "At the moment the red flags came out I was slithering through the gravel trap at Old Hall corner. I was so glad to see them. My car was set up for the dry, and it was just about undrivable."

Red flag regulations require the results to be wound back a lap, so Hertfordshire's Green was classified second and Suffolk racers Mitcham and de Zille Butler third and fourth respectively.

Sunday's race was no drier but at least the competitors were this time prepared for the worst. Fennymore found his car's handling much more to his liking and was able once more to romp into an early lead, pursued by Green.

Fennymore had an answer to everything his rivals could throw at him and emerged in front to cross the line less than two-tenths ahead of de Zille Butler.

  • Also in action at Donington were Wantage driver Paul Jepson and Bicester's Jack Newland, who were contesting the R400 class. Race one saw Williams Grand Prix technician Jepson claim second in class behind Londoner Patrick Gormley, with Newland fifth. On Sunday, it was Newland's turn to take second in class, with Jepson third. Gormley was once again the class victor.