MOTORSPORT: Nathan Freke's first car race of the year ended in success with a top novice place in the Walter Hayes Trophy meeting at Silverstone.

Kidderminster's kart-racing champion was eighth out of 45 entrants and narrowly missed a class win for pre-90 cars in his Century Motorsport Formula Ford 1600.

Freke had to abandon practice on Friday as the engine lost compression, caused by four bent exhaust valves, though the part was repaired in Stourport and refitted by midnight.

But there was still a problem with the engine in timed practice, resulting in a poor 11th qualifying place for the heat.

Freke enjoyed a good start and made it up to seventh before a missed gear pushed him back to ninth, one place outside automatic entry to the semi-finals.

He had pole position for the last chance race on Sunday and won by five seconds to reach the semis.

Freke then claimed a grid 20 spot in the grand final after 10th position helped him qualify comfortably.

It began to rain as the cars assembled for the last race which was good for the Wyre Forest driver as his power disadvantage was lessened by the wet track.

He was quickly up to 14th by the second lap but was held back by a pace flag shown due to spinning cars.

Freke eventually moved into the top 10 and now James Crofts, who with Martin Stretton is now managing the 20-year-old, hopes to provide him with a TVR Tuscan drive next year.