Scott Malvern is confident that he can still challenge for this year’s MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain title, despite failing to finish two of the opening races at Silverstone last weekend.

Malvern was twice involved in incidents with Australian racer Geoff Uhrhane during the final two rounds at the Northants track. Both incidents forced Malvern to retire from the races with damage to his Jamun Racing Mygale SJ10.

The Barkingside driver, who finished second in the points driving for Cliff Dempsey Racing last year, said: “It’s been a miserable weekend really because we expected so much more after the first race. The car definitely has the pace, but these results have made our job much harder, especially with my two dropped scores already gone.

“But I’m going to stay positive and I’m not writing off the championship yet because there’s still a long way to go.”

Although Malvern won the opening race, his two non-scores have left him outside of the top-10 in the championship points and 44 behind team-mate and series leader Jeroen Slaghekke. The races mark the first time Malvern has failed to finish a British championship race.

Malvern fought tooth and nail with Uhrhane for the race lead in the opener, swapping positions several times and eventually coming out on top to take a narrow hard-earned victory.

His joy was short-lived as Uhrhane forced the Barkingside racer into the gravel in race two and ultimately retire with rear upright and suspension damage.

But if race two was bad enough worse was to come in race three.

Malvern tucked himself in behind leader Uhrhane but as he jinked left to block off the threat from the Barkingside driver Uhrhane braked hard, well before the expected braking zone, and the inevitable happened with his car almost somersaulting as it climbed over the back of Uhrhane.

But after enduring the most difficult weekend of his car race career to date, he will be determined to come out fighting in two weeks time at Oulton Park.