KIDDERMINSTER racing driver Nathan Freke's stock continues to rise after a starring role earned him a place on the podium at the Walter Hayes Trophy meeting at Silverstone.

With over 150 entrants, the event was the biggest FormulaFord 1600 meeting in the UK for years. It is dedicated to Hayes, the man who invented the class, and got Ford into circuit racing.

It attracted an international field, including current Formula3, Porsche Carrera Cup, GTCar drivers and the winner for the last two years, who is a 2005 nominee for the British Racing Drivers Club/McLaren/ Autosport young driver of theyear award.

The event held over three days in a knockout format on the Silverstone NationalCircuit is the highlight of the Formula Ford 1600 year, taking over from the Festival at Brands Hatch with well over twice the drivers taking part.

After his recent woes at the Brands Festival, Freke feared the worst when his engine was dropped by the carrier upon return from its rebuild but it was re-checked and installed without too much trouble.

After ironing out frustrating niggles with the Century/Newnet/Jamun racecar during Friday testing, Freke came through Saturday's qualifying to earn grid 11 for the semi-final on Sunday.

With the rain lashing down on Sunday, Freke used his superior skills for driving in wet conditions to cope with standing water on the track.

He made his way up to fourth and was closing in on third when a major accident brought out the red flag to stop the race and the result was taken from the previous lap when Freke was fifth.

It meant Freke began the Grand Final on grid 10 and got off to an impressive start only to be forced onto the grass by a spinning car directly infront of him.

After dropping back to seventh by the end of the first lap, he drove with outstanding skill to constantly lap faster than any other driver in the race.

Freke proceeded to pick off his rivals, which just left the top three FF1600 races in Britain in front of him, and he was soon locked in a ding dong battle with the recent festival winner.

Not to be thwarted, Freke pulled off the move of the race to take third place on the last lap and secure a podium finish, undoubtedly his best FF1600 result ever, and the fastest lap of the race to go with it.

His father Clive said: "To finish third in a field of 150 drivers of absolute top quality confirms Nathan as one of the best racers in the UK and he is now considering his options for 2006."