Craig Rainer and the Wealden Racing Team had a surprise class win in the Ford Saloon Car Championship at Donington Park.

Racing in class B, Rainer, having broken part of the ignition system in a practice session the previous evening, failed to get their RS2000 MKII Escort running for the qualifying session and had to start the race from the back of the grid.

With seven other Class B cars and the rest of the field in front of him, it seemed unlikely the Crawley Down driver was going to obtain many points from this race but a superb start had him up to 14th overall and fourth in class by the first corner.

With some first class driving Rainer powered his way through the field over the next few laps and by lap eight of the ten-lap race he was lying third in class and sixth overall.

With only two laps to go Rainer pulled out all the stops and overtook the last remaining class B cars and one of the class A cars to take the chequered flag, first in class and third overall.

His excellent drive earned him his second Driver of the Day award this year. The points earned for the win, plus putting in the fastest lap for class B, place him clear in the lead of the class and in good contention for winning the championship overall with only four races to go.

It was not such a happy day for Brighton's Mike Webb, who has been plagued by mechanical problems this year.

The weekend had started well for Webb who qualified fourth overall and in pole position for the class B cars but a problem developed while on the grid for the warm-up lap.

Despite a good start it became clear it was a misfire problem and Webb could do nothing to fend off faster cars. He struggled on, though, and eventually finished tenth overall and fourth in class.

He said: "Qualifying was really good. I qualified ahead of my normal rivals, who I expected to be quicker than me on this fast flowing track. It goes to prove the car is quick when it doesn't have these small niggly problems."

The next round is at Brands Hatch on August 18.