11 October, 2008: Wayne Boyd closed to within a gnat's whisker of the 2008 British Formula Ford Championship title today at Donington Park with a podium finish at the wheel of his Jamun Racing Mygale.

Wayne's third place in round 23 leaves the 17-year-old Ulsterman needing only a point from one of Sunday's two races to secure the crown. And even if Boyd fails to add to his points tally, his only title rival, Tim Blanchard, would need to win both remaining races and take fastest lap in each to pip him to the crown.

Blanchard was on the back foot from the outset at Donington, qualifying only fifth fastest, two-tenths off the pole-sitting pace set by his Jamun team-mate Boyd. Then in the race, as Wayne sped into an early lead, Blanchard had to battle to find a way past the Getem Mygale of Dutch driver Chris Maliepaard to move into third spot. Soon Tim came under severe pressure from another of his running mates, Brazilian Victor Correa, who was in spirited form after qualifying problems left him 10th on the grid.

Correa latched on to Blanchard's tail on the sixth lap and, two laps later, stormed past him and up to third under braking for the Goddards chicane. Tim fought back into Coppice next time around but an increasingly damp track made the manoeuvre all the more perilous; the two Mygales tangled and Blanchard spun into the gravel and effectively out of the championship battle.

His title rival out of the hunt, Boyd knew he could afford to relax a little and so, when he came under attack from both Correa and the Fluid Motorsport Van Diemen of David Brown at the end of the penultimate lap, Wayne capitulated rather than risk a no-score. It was a classic Formula Ford last-gasp thriller, with Brown tucked right up under Boyd's tail as they crossed the line to start the final tour and Correa outfoxing them both to snatch the lead into Redgate.

Victor hung on in front of Brown by eight-hundredths to take his second race win of the season. "I can't believe it... It was a great race. I don't know what else to say!" said Correa. Added Brown: "Victor drove brilliantly. I'm gutted not to have won. I really wanted it."

Boyd was a second-and-a-half behind for third and delighted to have almost secured the championship: "I allowed myself a small smile when I saw Tim in the gravel. It was a shame for him and the team but it certainly took the pressure off me."

Maliepaard took fourth, only just ahead of the leading Scholarship class contender, Chrissy Palmer, who as ever was revelling in the damp track conditions at the wheel of his Sterling Motorsport Ray. Rogier de Wit pipped his JTR team-mate Matt Hamilton to sixth, with Linton Stuteley, James Cole and Alex Jones rounding out the top 10.