Epping racing driver Lochlan Bearman gained two podium finishes by finishing third in rounds three and four of the Ford Fiesta Junior Championship at Lincolnshire’s Cadwell Park.

Having been disappointed with his results of ninth and fifth at Brands Hatch in April, Bearman was looking for a good result to get his championship bid back on target.

The 15-year-old qualified in fifth, three tenths off pole after he was stuck in traffic following a red flag which added to his time.

In race one, Bearman managed to move up before the Code 60 flag had been deployed, forcing the drivers to restrict their speeds and not overtake.

After the re-start the top four were all close together but the teenager managed to cross the line in third, just 3/1000 ahead of fourth.

He started race two third on the grid but quickly found himself a place behind when the fourth-placed man made an incredible start and was leading by the time the cars turned into the left hand Coppice corner.

Bearman then gradually caught third place but on the thin Cadwell Park track found the position was being firmly defended. Eventually he got through, having planned his move and setting it up three corners in advance.

Bearman was now looking safe in third but as the race continued he suffered understeer in his car. The tyres had passed their best and he knew his closest rivals were on good rubber. The fourth-placed driver caught him on the last lap and Bearman had to use all his karting experience to keep him behind.

Speaking after his last race of the day he said: “I had to be close through the first two turns and onto the straight. I knew he would defend but as he moved back across to take the racing line I out braked him down the inside.

“I knew he’d come in too hot so as he passed I undercut him and retook third before the line – another close finish.

“After Brands it was good to come away with a solid performance and two podiums,” Bearman reflected. “We’ve a few areas of the car to improve on and if I can find some money hopefully we can have those on the car for Silverstone at the end of May. [It’s] great to be back on the podium.”