Motorsport: Howie Mainwaring and Joe Francis end seasons on a high

HOWIE Mainwaring and Joe Francis ended their seasons on a high at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

Mainwaring came third in the Metzeler National Superstock 1,000 Championship race, having at one point led.

The Frodsham flyer – for whom it was a second podium position of an injury-hit campaign – finishes a creditable sixth in the final standings.

There was also a top-three place for rising star Francis at the famous Kent track.

The Backford teenager came through the pack to cross the line in third in the Monster Energy Motostar British Championship race.

That ensured Francis finishes fifth in the final standings and a superb second in the Motostar Cup.

Chester-born Jenny Tinmouth, meanwhile, rounded off her first full season in the British Superbike Championship by coming home in 23rd, 21st and 23rd again in her three races at Brands Hatch.

Highly rated single-seater racer Seb Morris is targeting a successful start to the 2012 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Winter Series at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Last weekend the Abbey Gate College student finished 23rd and an impressive 11th in his first two Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup races, held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.