by Glenn Patterson

Last updated at 14:12, Friday, 27 July 2012

Alex MacDowall starred on his first ever visit to Curitiba in Brazil last weekend with his fifth class podium of the season helping him climb back into the top four of the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s Yokohama Independents Trophy standings.

Alex MacDowall

The 21-year-old, from Tarraby, near Carlisle, was immediately on the pace on his first long-distance fly-away event of his motorsport career.

During pre-event testing and practice he was the fastest of the Independent runners in two of the three sessions and never out of the overall top six.

During qualifying, the ECM-backed driver needed just one flying lap to progress into the all-important second session and only the smallest of errors on his second run in the final part of qualifying prevented a potential top four start overall – instead he had to settle for sixth – and second in the Independents Trophy.

Anticipating the rolling start to race one well, the WTCC rookie held position and pressured the sister Chevrolet Cruze of Michel Nykjaer as the race wore on. At mid-distance, just 0.3 seconds separated the team-mates as MacDowall piled on the pressure and also pulled well clear of the chasing pack.

Not wishing to risk any rash overtaking moves, and mindful of the tight turn-around time of less than an hour between races, the Cumbrian settled for second in class and sixth overall.

He also set the fastest Independent lap averaging 97.97mph.

Following a brief Safety Car period in race two, he started to make progress and by lap nine MacDowall was into the overall top 10 before claiming ninth two laps later. Although slipping a couple of positions before the finish, he recorded a creditable 11th place overall and fifth in class.

“Overall it’s been a great weekend, we were quick from the first session on Friday and definitely showed we’ve closed the pace to the works cars,” said MacDowall.

“We thought we’d be in good shape at Curitiba and it all worked out quite well.

“Race one was good, we were really competitive, set the fastest Indy lap and moved into fourth in the championship so I was really happy with that.

“Unfortunately the start of race two really cost us, the car just bogged down off the line and nearly everyone went past but I managed to get back to finish fifth in the Independents so that’s not bad.”

MacDowall now has a lengthy eight-week summer break from competition before the series’ inaugural visit to the United States. Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point, in California will host the ninth event of the WTCC season over the weekend of September 22-23.

In the British Superbike Championship, Paul Bird Motorsport team rider Shane Byrne thrust himself firmly into championship contention when he rocketed to a superb double victory in round seven of the series at Brands Hatch last weekend.

The Kent rider claimed his first pole position of the season and then led both 18-lap races from start to finish.

“A double victory is always good but to do it at my home circuit, in the sunshine and in front of a big local crowd is fantastic,” said Byrne.

“We knew we had work to do after Oulton Park and the team have worked their butts off to address the problems we had so they deserve this as much as anyone.”

Meanwhile, the team is back in action this weekend with Kendal rider James Ellison in round 10 of the MotoGP World Championship as the first of two successive rounds in the USA takes place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

It’s the Penrith team’s debut season in MotoGP but last time out at Mugello, former World Endurance and double European Champion Ellison battled with the leading CRT bikes throughout the race.

“Laguna Seca is in my top three all time favourite tracks so to be riding it on the Aprilia which I'm really enjoying riding at the minute will be awesome,” said Ellison.

“We made a step forward with the upgraded swinging arm in Mugello which gave us more grip and we have one in the second bike this weekend too so that should help us.”

In rallying, Cockermouth driver Richard Barnard made the most of a bad week to finish 15th on the Isle of Man-based Pokerstars Rally last weekend.

The 24-year-old tested with former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins in the run up to the event but the session was cut short after the rear differential failed.

The car was fixed in time for the Friday evening stages over some of the island’s most difficult, but enjoyable, roads.

But a rear drive shaft snapped just one mile into Friday’s final stage and he suffered four minutes of lost time.

During Saturday, Barnard pushed hard over the six timed stages to claw his way up to 15th overall and third in class. He’s also out in action this weekend at the Harry Flatters rally which uses many of the notorious Tarmac roads over the Epynt military ranges in mid-Wales.

First published at 14:05, Friday, 27 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk