MOTORSPORT: Astley driver Tim Matthews faces an uphill battle to win the UK Sports 2,000 Championships after leaving the track in the recent round at Castle Combe.

But Matthews blasted rival racer Guy Ellis for holding him up, leading to an untimely exit onto the grass at the Wiltshire circuit.

Both drivers caught a tailender and as they went through the 120mph right-hander, Matthews was forced off the track in his new Gunn vehicle.

He missed the tyre barrier by inches and spun several times before lining up with the circuit but his engine had died.

Matthews heads to Snetterton this weekend, needing points to stand any chance of mounting a championship challenge.

And he fumed: "Ellis definitely needs a lesson in track manners. You are only supposed to chance lines once going into any corner but he just kept darting from side to side.

"If he does it again, I'm just going to drive straight into him."

Matthews has been starring every Monday night in a Channel Five television show, called Be A Grand Prix Driver.

The series follows The 2003 Exchange and Mart UK F1 Drivers Challenge that was put on by Matthews.

Almost 3,000 people entered the contest, aiming for a chance to drive Tim Tyrrell's Grand Prix car at Monza.

Matthews said: "As the event has progressed there have been plenty of tears and tantrums but we are finding a good number of drivers with potential."

The driver's own long-term aim is to win the Sports 2000 Championship and compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race.