AJ Owen was a class apart at Snetterton as he put together the perfect race weekend to claim two first place finishes in the Pre-2003 Touring Car Championships.

The Hazlemere racer is defending the title he won in 2015 and did his chances of retaining his crown no harm with his pair of wins.

Appalling racing conditions ensured qualifying would be a test, but Owen mastered the elements to take poll position and secure his place at the front of the grid.

While the weather eased somewhat ahead of the first race, there was still the need to start in wet tyres as rain continued to fall.

Again Owen retained his composure and put together an excellent drive to take the chequered flag.

The victory meant he would start the final race of the weekend with a further 25kg of success ballast, taking his total to 100kg.

Owen’s class shone out again though and he held off spirited challenges from a number of drivers to claim the narrowest of wins.

Luke Allen pushed him particularly hard and finished just one hundredth of a second behind Owen’s Honda Civic R Type.

Owen will now turn his focus to the season finale which takes place at Silverstone on the weekend commencing Saturday, October 8.