WORCESTER race star Rich-ard Hay has maintained his overall lead in the Cosworth Caterham Masters following good results in the latest rounds at the Spanish circuit of Valencia.

Hay was at the wheel of the Colards Motorsport-prepared Caterham CSR sports car which he shares with Sussex-based multiple Caterham champion Clive Richards.

They qualified fifth on the grid and were in contention for victory in both of the day's races, finishing second and third in respective events.

The first of Saturday's races brought a surprise debut win for Neil Fletcher (Horn-church) and Nathan Bell (Chippenham), and in race two there was an emphatic victory for Frenchman Francois Desprez.

Race one had looked safe in French hands from its early stages. Twenty-year-old Dam-ien Toulemonde raced into the lead from row two of the grid, and he and Desprez disputed victory for several laps.

Desprez was the first of the leading trio to make his mandatory pit visit, but he threw away a likely race victory by breaking the pit lane speed limit.

Summoned to return to the pits for a drive-through penalty, he then transgressed again by crossing the pit exit line prematurely, incurring a further drive-through.

There were no such unforced errors from Fletcher, who handed over to Bell a lap after Desprez's original stop, their car rejoining the fray in fifth place.

Six laps later Toulemonde pitted to hand over to his 41-year-old father, Bruno, who emerged just ahead of Bell, who seized the opportunity to pounce and take the lead.

Bell proceeded to chime in with a closing-stint performance which belied his lack of experience of the new Caterham CSRl, taking the chequered flag 12.7 seconds ahead of the Hay/Richards machine, which had relieved French veteran Michel Mora of second place with three laps to go.

Toulemonde once again proved the fastest man in the early stages of race two, relieving Fletcher of the lead on the opening lap. The French youngster was not out front for long. He slipped to third behind the cars of Loc Martinez/Phil-ippe Simon and Desprez before pitting with engine problems after 13 laps.

Desprez then took over in front and led all the way to the chequered flag. It was Desprez's second Cosworth Caterham Masters race victory of the season.

The Fletcher/Bell car took over second spot at one-third distance and the victory margin at flag fall was just 5.5 seconds.

Hay and Richards were third, a further 15 seconds behind.

The next rounds of the Cosworth Caterham Masters takes place at Oulton Park, Cheshire, on July 23. In addition to the title sponsorship from Cosworth, the championship is backed by Comma and Avon.