CHIPPING Norton’s Alice Powell retained her lead in the Graduate Cup Championship in the 2011 Formula Renault UK series – despite an up and down weekend at Donington Park.

Driving for the Manor Competition team, the 18-year-old finished ninth in round three.

She was then fifth in round four, but was promoted to third place after the two Fortec cars were excluded on a technical infringement.

Qualifying saw Powell in ninth spot on the grid for race one, and she was hit coming into the first corner, which bumped her down a position at the start of lap one.

After running wide at the last chicane, she then dropped down to last, but fought her way back through the pack to finish ninth at the chequered flag. Having qualified in fourth spot on the grid for race two, she didn’t get the best of starts, dropping down to sixth, but she had reclaimed a place by the end of the first lap.

She remained in fifth for the rest of the race.

However, following a post-race enquiry, which saw the two Fortec cars excluded, she was promoted to the podium, and also won the weekend’s Graduate Cup.

She is in sixth place in the 2011 Formula Renault UK series.

Powell is now concentrating on rounds five and six at Thruxton next weekend.