OXFORD teenager Matt Chapman leapt into second place in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge standings after a pair of runner-up spots in rounds four and five at Thruxton.

Securing the second and third podiums of his rookie campaign in the one-make category – which ran as part of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support package for the first time – the 16-year-old Total Control Racing driver was delighted with his weekend’s work.

“I’m pretty satisfied with two second places from the weekend, he said:

“Thruxton is a mega circuit, I love racing there and it’s been great being there for the first time racing on slick tyres in a Challenge car.”

Chapman was second fastest in qualifying on Saturday morning, but was unable to capitalise on his front row start in the fourth round, and soon slipped back to fourth.

However, he soon made up the lost ground and took the chequered flag just 2.3 seconds adrift of winner Ollie Chadwick but 10 seconds clear of the chasing pack.

For round five on Sunday afternoon, which was broadcast live on ITV4, Chapman was surrounded by the second-row starters, but he fought clear.

He was the quickest driver on track during the latter stages and finished 1.4 secs behind Chapman.

The next two rounds are at Oulton Park in Cheshire on May 28 and 29, when the category will link up with the British GT Championship.

l CHIPPING Norton’s Sean Walkinshaw and teammate Ricardo Sánchez earned their best result of the Blancpain Sprint Cup season on Sunday.

The pair finished third in the Silver Cup class and 22nd overall at Brands Hatch in Kent for the Nissan GT Academy Team RJN.

Walkinshaw said: “Brands is a pretty tight track for so many cars, so to come through with third in the Silver Cup wasn’t bad going.”

The next round of the Sprint Cup season is not until July 2 at the Nurburgring, but Walkinshaw is in action this weekend at Silverstone for the Blancpain Endurance Cup.