PERSHORE'S Matt Nicoll-Jones is third in the Texaco Havoline Ginetta Championship after picking up one win at Brands Hatch.

Ginetta newcomer and Academy Motorsport team-mate Daniel Laddiman finished just 2.934 seconds behind Nicoll-Jones to take a solid second from a field of 35 cars.

Nicoll-Jones, the 2005 champion, overtook pole-position driver Ben Elliott, who eventually spun on his second lap, on the first corner. The Worcestershire race ace proceeded to lead the field to the flag.

Academy driver Mark Wania had his best race so far, along with local driver Richard Austin, finishing sixth and fifth respectively.

But luck did not stay with Nicoll-Jones in the second of the championship races.

He had initially built up a lead on Elliott who made up ground to provide a thrilling on-track battle for the lead.

It saw the pair end up going side-by-side into Hawthorn Bend and into the gravel.

Elliot was able to recover and finish the race only to be later excluded, while Nicoll-Jones remained stranded in the gravel. As a result, Laddiman was awarded the win.

Laddiman now leads the championship with Nicoll-Jones in third place.

The championship moves on to Snetterton on June 2 and 3.