CHIPPING Norton’s Alice Powell bounced back from a disappointing qualifying session to post two top-eight finishes in the Formula Renault UK Championship at Silverstone.

Moving away from being a support race to the British Touring Car Championship, Formula Renault was on the World Series by Renault weekend, which attracted crowds of more than 100,000.

There was only one 25-minute qualifying session, unlike the usual 2x20 minutes, with the drivers’ second-best time setting their position for race two.

And Powell struggled in her Manor Competition Formula Renault, managing only to post the 12th best time, and 11th best for race two.

However, in race one, a fantastic start saw her pass two cars round the outside of Copse corner, and a further one through the fast Maggots and Becketts.

Taking advantage of cars bunching, Powell took to the inside of teammate, Josh Hill, to gain another spot.

By the end of lap one, the 18-year-old was already up to eighth place, but she didn’t stop there, passing Jordan King and Oscar King to take sixth place, which she held to the finish, with Alex Lynn (Fortec Motorsports) taking victory.

In race two, another good start saw Powell gain two places only to slip to tenth.

However, at Brooklands, a crash between Oscar King and Dan Wells, allowed Powell to move up to eighth where she finished as Lynn made it a double.

Powell said: “Qualifying was a disaster, and I am going to work hard over the break to sort it.

“The races were great, especially race one. I was so fired up and took full advantage of getting a good drive off the line, both times, to attack the cars in front and move forward.”

Powell is in seventh place in the standings with Lynn the clear leader.

Her next outing is at Rockingham on September 17-18.