MINI racing ace Ollie Mortimer won the opening two rounds of the 2009 Mini Challenge at Rockingham Raceway – and was only just pipped to the line to prevent a hat-trick of victories.
Driving for Formula Tanker Rental, Mortimer was one of three drivers racing for the Ellesmere Port-based team in the curtain-raiser in Northamptonshire.
Rookie Nick Booth, of Chester, and Wirral's Carl Bennett also raced.
Bennett finished his first race in the Cooper S class in seventh but a 120mph smash in the second race ended his meeting. He walked away unhurt and will race alongside his team-mates at Brands Hatch on June 6 and 7.
In the Club class, Booth ran well, placing himself third in the championship with a third, a fourth and a second place to his name.
The team is based at Formula House on Bridges Road in Ellesmere Port.
The Mini Challenge consists of 18 races at six different tracks.
