Racing driver Toby Bearne made a brilliant start to his his VAG Trophy campaign with a podium finish in the opening round of this year’s championship at Oulton Park.

Having been handed the chance to race with the Kent-based Team-HARD outfit this year in a competition that is seen as a stepping stone for rising racing talent towards the British Touring Car Championships, the 21-year-old from Silver End made an impressive start.

Bearne finished fifth in the first race in wet conditions at Oulton Park – his debut outing in the VAG Trophy – before showing why Team-HARD have handed him the opportunity this year with a second place in the final race of the opening weekend.

The former Rickstones School pupil said: “I was over the moon to be on the podium with a trophy and Champagne in only my second race for Team-HARD.

“It means after two rounds of the 16-race VAG Trophy competition, I am second in the championship table.”

In race one, Bearne qualified ninth on the grid out of the 28-car entry in wet and windy conditions, but was soon on the pace to challenge at the front of the field.

He added: “I made a great start and was up to fourth place by the end of lap one.

“I was on full wet tyres, but as the track started to dry out, tyre wear and a bump up the rear pushed me down a few places.

“However, I managed to fight back and finished the race in fifth.”

That finish put the Silver End man on the front row for the reverse-grid second race and he used that to good effect in much drier conditions.

“I again had a good start and led the race coming out of the first bend,” said Bearne.

“I was pushing very hard and leading for the next nine laps, and by this time was lapping the backmarkers.

“I out-braked myself going into Foster’s bend and dropped back to fourth with only three laps remaining, but I managed to finish the race in second place and only 0.134 seconds behind the winner.”

Bearne’s next outing will be a triple-header at Donington Park later this month.

Anyone interested in partnering or sponsoring Bearne can email him at bearnetenpin@aol.com