RACE ace Luke Cooper took the chequered flag once again at Castle Combe, winning the Formula Ford Bank Holiday double header to increase his lead in the championship.

The Chippenham driver not only won both races, but set the fastest lap in both to further his points lead in the Combe’s Formula Ford 1600 championship.

Cooper, 23, started racing six years ago, but his year is his best yet, having won all five Formula Ford meetings this year in his Swift SC16 class A.

He said “This double win has set me up for next weekend. I am lying second the national championships and looking forward to next Saturday’s round at Brands Hatch.”

Cooper didn’t have it all his own way, and faced a real battle to the chequered flag in the second race with Hugo Bently-Ellis in a Spectrum, with the pair swapping the lead several times throughout the last few laps.

Another local star driver, Simon Norris, faced problems in the Saloon Car Championship rounds.

Calne man Norris did not finish the early race of the day due to a mechanical setback and started from the back in the second of the contests.

But from a full grid of 23 cars, Norris set fastest laps to come through to finish second overall and take valuable points in the championship.

The race was won by Alex Kite in his Audi 200, less than a second up on Norris in his Mitsubishi Colt.

Norris’ nearest championship contender Gary Prebble had problems with his Seat Leon Cupra and did not take to the start line in either of the qualifying races.

Tony Hutchins, of Melksham, driving his Audi TT, finished second in the first of the double headers and third in the second qualifying race in the champion round.