Top British racing driver Ryan Lewis from Royston took a brace of second places in the opening rounds of the Visma Software Formula Palmer Audi Championship at Silverstone today, while older brother Ben was forced out of the day's opening 22 lapper but recovered to take seventh in the second race.

Nineteen year-old Ryan qualified his Building Environmental Services car in second place to line up on the front row of the grid for the days first race, with Ben, in an identical car, struggling to get a clear lap and winding up seventh quickest.  At the start pole-sitter Adam Smith stormed away with Ryan snapping at his heels, and as the cars entered the first corner Ryan found a way past, but lost the place the same lap.

As Ryan explained, 'Not a bad result, not as good as first though, but Adam (Smith) had the legs on me and he just pulled out a bit of gap and once you're out on the part of the circuit when they can't toe you along it's difficult.  I just made a few mistakes that's all.  I fluffed the start a bit and ended up using the boost and managed to keep with him and we were pretty much side by side all the way to Maggotts and then he slotted in behind me and then up the straight he got a good run on me and got by up the inside into Brooklands.'

FPA Autumn Trophy Champion Ben was less happy with being forced out in the first race, following a promising start, the 23 year-old saying;  'I made an excellent start up to fifth and was right on the tail of Chris (Young) and I knew I was much faster and that it was only a matter of time til I could get by hi. At Brooklands I got him once then he got me back and then we were all following in a chain, I dived down the inside of Chris but it didn't pay off because as we pulled out of the corner he ended up taking my front wing off.  I came in the pits for repairs and went out again but the car didn't feel right."

In qualifying for the second race, Ryan posted the fourth quickest time, while Ben was down in 13th, with it all to do in the race.  At the lights, Ryan made a great start to hold position and with a superb move passed two cars, crossing the line second behind eventual winner Steve Young.  'That was hard work, I definitely had to work for it that time, 'said Ryan after the race.  'Once I got by Adam (Smith) he really harassed me for the whole race and I managed to stay in front and just tried to keep it clean.  One lap, Adam got a really good run and we were side by side going into Maggotts, he got on the boost, and I tried to give him enough space and we ended up going into Luffield side by side.  He stayed there longer than I thought he would, and we very nearly touched, that was really close, I don't think a cigarette paper could have split us.   Whenever I got close to Steve, Adam managed to get closer to me and to be fair to him, Steve drove really well.'

Ben meanwhile, drove a storming race, from 13th to seventh at the flag, his drive earning him the Gemini Press Cup for most improved race result. 'I got an absolutely cracking start I think I got about 3 people on the start and then it was all very tight all the way to Brooklands.  I managed to make up another position there I think it was Ryan (Hooker) then it turned into a bit of a train but I managed to by Paul (Warren), then Howard and Simon had a bit of a tangle, which allowed me and Paul to get on the back of them.   I made a really good move on Howard round the outside at Brooklands and made it stick, and then he tried to retake me Into Copse which put us both out and allowed Warren through and that  was effectively the end of my race as he then pulled away and I wasn't able to move any closer. "

Race 1 - 22 laps

Race 2 - 22 laps

Championship points after 2 rounds