BASINGSTOKE saloon car driver Chris Mohan endured a frustrating afternoon at round two of the Dunlop VAG Trophy at Brands Hatch.

Mohan impressed in qualifying at the famous Kent circuit and was in contention for first place in his class.

However, a lengthy safety car period interrupted the session and he had to settle for 15th on the grid, second in his class.

The Chineham driver made a fine start to race one, moving up to 11th and keeping the Class B leader in his sights.

Unfortunately, a period behind the safety car broke the excitement and Mohan struggled with cold tyres when the race restarted.

The back of his Volkswagen Golf lost traction, forcing him wide, and a rumble strip tore a tyre from the wheel, leaving the Basingstoke man in the gravel and out of the race.

There was a frantic battle to get the car repaired in time for race two, with Mohan’s team stripping, cleaning and refitting the wheels, tyres and brake callipers to remove any gravel that had become lodged.

Mohan started race two near the back of the grid. He made good progress but was locked in a battle for fourth place for a long period.

He eventually managed to get past and close the gap to third, but he ran out of laps and was unable to make the overtaking manoeuvre needed to earn him a podium place.

Mohan is in action again next weekend, when the Dunlop VAG Trophy visits Silverstone.