CALLUM Grant stretched his lead in the Historic Sports Car Championships' Formula Ford Championships despite suffering brake problems in the latest rounds of racing at Oulton Park over the bank holiday weekend.

The 21-year-old racing driver, from Bromley Cross, won seven out of the nine previous rounds but could only manage fourth and fifth-placed finishes in the weekend's two action-packed races.

In what is becoming a two-horse race, his closest challenger, Rob Wainwright, picked up 20 points after finishing second in the first race but did not manage to finish the second.

And with Grant battling his way to a combined total of 26 points, he now leads the championships by 25 points with a maximum 100 points still up for grabs in double-headers in the final two races of the series – at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.

It looked like the young Bolton racer would take a giant leap towards the title after qualifying in his Merlyn MK20A in second place on the grid for the first race of the Gold Cup weekend.

When the lights went out at the start of race one, Grant stormed into the lead at the first corner.

A thrilling race took place with Grant and fellow competitors Ben Tilley, Sam Mitchell, Wainwright and Maxim Bartell, who qualified in pole position, all fighting for the top positions.

The lead changed hands between Grant and Mitchell before a sickening crash on lap six.

Grant experienced brake failure while in the lead and over-shot at the Knickerbrook chicanes. Panic ensued in the chasing pack following his avoiding action and after Tilley clipped another competitor his car rolled off violently.

Despite exiting the track, Grant was able to nurse his car round for the seventh and final lap to finish fourth.

Race two was just as engrossing. Starting fourth on the grid after making running repairs to the Merlyn’s brake lines, Grant soon settled down and moved up the field to contest the lead with Wainwright, Bartell and Mitchell.

Positions changed all the way through the 21-minute race, but the Bromley Cross flyer clocked the fastest lap of the race on lap four to take charge, only for further brake issues to curtail his progress.

However, the 21-year-old used his composure and controlled the car to bring it home in fifth.

The next rounds are at Brands Hatch on the September 17 and the championship concludes at Silverstone on October 15-16.