Barlow on podium in debut race

Jack Barlow on track at Brands Hatch. Picture courtesy Roger Standish Photosport

The 18-year-old from Pett - who came sixth overall in last year’s Formula 4 Championship - took third place in Saturday’s curtain raiser after fighting his way through the pack from a seventh place starting berth.

In the following race, Barlow crossed the line in fifth place after a solid opening day’s drive in a championship which has a history of producing Formula One Drivers’ Championship winners - including Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button.

Sunday drew a large and expectant crowd for the opening race of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and for the third and final race of the Formula Ford race weekend. Barlow, though, was left stranded on the starting grid as his engine momentarily failed to kick into life.

However, the Jamun Racing driver made his way through the field to fifth place, drawing plaudits from press and spectators alike.

Barlow said: “People were coming up to me and saying ‘Were you in the red car? Oh man, you were awesome!’ and things like that. You couldn’t see on the TV that I put in some proper, hairy moves - I passed two cars going into Paddock Hill Bend.

“My team was delighted and even people from other teams were praising me for my pace and overtaking skills, but I was just frustrated that I fluffed my start.”

Barlow retained his fourth place in the points table and is now preparing for the series’ visit to Donington Park on the weekend of April 19 and 20.