Valley-based racer Alex Jones enjoyed an eventful start to his British Formula Ford Championship campaign at Oulton Park, Cheshire.

The 19-year-old was at the wheel of his Myerscough College-prepared Van Diemen, and was contesting the championship's Scholarship Class for the drivers of older cars. Alex, who is embarking on his first full season of car racing after success in karts, qualified 17th overall and third in class.

Jones avoided the accidents of others which brought race one to a premature end to finish 15th overall and third in class, behind his rivals Garry Findlay (Suffolk) and Adam Batch (East Yorks).

Findlay made a costly error at the start of race two, slithering off the track on the opening lap, and Jones was able to keep Batch at bay for the duration of the race to claim class victory along with 14th place overall.

Alas technical problems intervened at the start of race three and Jones was forced into retirement after just a lap. His points haul for the weekend gives him fourth place overall in the Scholarship Class.