Rookie driver Jason Cooper established his racing credentials in style after a stunning drive through the rain at the Castle Combe Circuit's Bank Holiday Monday meeting on May 26 The 19-year-old, who lives literally on the edge of the circuit at Yatton Keynell, was taking part in only his third race in the National Mobile Windscreens Saloon Car Championship.

His 1.4 litre self-built Fiesta is one of the least powerful cars in the series, but in very wet conditions, the youngster brought his car home in a superb fifth place, beating drivers with much more experience and considerably more expensive machinery.

Cooper's start to the day was even more impressive, qualifying the Fiesta fourth fastest overall and some 17 places ahead of his closest class D rival.

In the race, Cooper was initially beaten away from the line by the likes of Bristol's Mark Wyatt in his sophisticated Astra 2 litre, but managed to pass him halfway through, finishing 11 places and almost a lap up on his closest class rival, Chippenham's Will Di Claudio in the Peugeot 106.

The Driver of the Day award was more than justified after such a performance. Probably even more overjoyed than Jason, were his parents, Alan and Jayne Cooper, who run the circuit's popular racing school and skid pan.

Right at the front, Torquay's Barry Squibb led from pole to flag to take an easy win in his Mitsubishi Evo, with the similar car of Cheltenham's Laurence Kilby almost half a minute behind, the Lancer trio completed by Brian Cox a further 19 seconds adrift.

In fourth was reigning double champion, Calne's Tony Hutchings in his new Audi TT, another car not yet fully competitive in dry conditions, but its power deficit made up by its driver in the rain.

Bristolian, David Kift, survived a slight coming together with another car to win class C again in his Peugeot 205 Gti.

Bridgwater's Josh Fisher took two of the wins from the circuit's home championships, his first being in the savesometax.co.uk Special GT championship race in his 2 litre Mantis Supersport.

Better known for his exploits in the circuit's Formula Ford championship, Fisher's car is no match for some of the more powerful cars and only completed four laps of qualifying.

With the conditions still very damp for the race, Fisher was instantly on the attack, chasing second placed man, Simon Tilling, in the Radical, taking him on the approach to Avon Rise on lap two.

Erstwhile race leader, Nick Williamson, who had streaked away at the start with the benefit of his four wheel drive from his Escort Cosworth, was dispatched just over a lap later, Fisher going on to open out a lead of more than 17 seconds by the finish.

Tilling and Williamson swopped places again a couple of times, with the saloon eventually taking the runner up spot from the Radical.

Winning class A, but only sixth overall, was Westbury's Shane Marshall, in the 3.0 litre Chrysler powered Jade.

I don't like the wet and neither does my car,'' was his comment at the end.

Chippenham's Keith Sprules, was full of smiles after winning class D in his Ferrari 360 Challenge, fastest lap sealing his day's work.

Fisher's second win came in the third round of the Melton Concrete Products Formula Ford 1600 Championship after leader, Ed Moore from Bradford on Avon, went off at Tower on the ninth lap.

Fisher had led the field away, but Moore, who qualified fourth, passed Fisher at Quarry on the third lap.

After Moore's demise, Fisher had the race to himself, though his equally talented younger brother, Felix, who had made a very poor start, closed at the end to make it not only a family one-two on the road, but two class wins to boot.

Another driver to make a very poor getaway was Robert Hall, the 18-year -old driving for the locally based Swift Cooper team.

A mid-race safety car allowed him to close enough to get onto the tail of the leading pack, claiming the final podium position two laps from home.

Castle Combe's Andy Jones took fourth place after qualifying sixth in his Ray, Bratton's Ben Norton moving up from 12th on the grid to finish 5th. Sixth overall and winner of the Pre 90 class C was Julian Heap in his 89 Reynard.

Among those not making it through the race were pole man, David Vivian from Bradford on Avon, in his class B Swift SC92 run by Wiltshire College's motoring school.

After holding third for the first five laps, his race ended like a number of others with damage to repair ready for the next race on July 19.