NORTH Yorkshire driver Sarah Moore discovered that life at the top can be tough, but the feisty 15-year-old held onto the lead of the Ginetta Junior championship after her home race at Croft circuit.

A haul of 22 points was enough for the 15-year-old to keep a margin of one point from closest challenger - and Tockwith Motorsport team-mate - Alex Austin following the weekend's two races at the Darlington track.

In the first, clean encounter Sarah claimed a solid sixth place from ninth on the grid, also her starting position for the second race.

This time, having made her way up to sixth, Sarah was unable to avoid her car being struck by a spinner, drastically reducing its pace and causing her to make an unscheduled pit stop with a puncture. Nevertheless, she brought the Ginetta home to pick up precious points and ensure her advantage is retained as the series goes into a seven-week summer break.

"At the start of the second race one of the other cars spun and I went wide on the grass," she said. "I had to pit and even after that it wouldn't turn round right-handers properly so I had to go really slowly. It was important to finish the race and get those points, so I hung on in there.

"When I'm out on the track I do think about the points and keeping my championship lead, but I can't let it distract me. Next up is Snetterton, which I really enjoy."

Younger brother David, meanwhile, gathered 29 points from two top-ten finishes to move up the championship standings to a joint sixth place. His second race was particularly impressive, the 14 year-old finishing fifth despite his car missing a door.

"To get a top ten and then improve on it was great," said David. "I was going round one of the corners when everyone in front slowed down and I clipped the tyre bale and the door fell off!

"But it didn't stop me finishing fifth. It's great to move up the standings. It's just been a really good, fun day."

While Sarah and David were racing close to home, elder brother Nigel endured a dramatic debut in France's legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. The 17-year-old - who became the youngest-ever British driver to compete in the race - was forced to leap from his burning car, which suffered a technical problem, before it crashed into a barrier.

While Sarah and David were racing close to home, older brother Nigel endured a dramatic debut in France’s legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. The 17-year-old – who became the youngest-ever British driver to compete in the race – was forced to leap from his burning car, which suffered a technical problem, before it crashed into a barrier.

The incident happened soon after the race’s half-way point, bringing an early end to Team LNT’s challenge in the 200mph Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 car, in which Nigel had been showing strong pace.