Reigning Pre-2003 Classic Touring Car Champion AJ Owen experienced a difficult start to the defence of his title.

Engine issues would ultimately hinder Owen’s progress throughout the weekend, but the 23-year-old battled on to salvage some semblance of a positive result from the weekend’s two races.

Things started brightly enough at Rokingham for Owen as he steered his Honda Civic R-Type to the front row of the grid with a pole position in qualifying.

He then set about leading the race confidently for a number of laps before he ran into difficulties with his engine which saw him fall to the very back of the field.

After slowing dramatically, Owen managed to get his engine firing again and climbed up two places to finish 14th.

The former Sir William Ramsey student did not win last season’s Pre-2003 title without showing a certain amount of grit, and he would need to do so again in the second race as he started on the last row of the grid.

What followed was an exhibition in aggressive driving and overtaking as Owen climbed to fifth after just three corners.

Two more passes followed before Owen settled into maintaining his race pace to finish third.

Owen currently finds himself in second in the overall standings of the championship which runs for 14 rounds across seven tracks.

He will be looking to improve his overall standing when the championship moves to Cadwell Park on the weekend commencing Saturday, May 14.