UP-AND-COMING Torton driver Alex Ashby took up an offer from Thorney Motorsport to race in the last round of the Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Cup at Snetterton.

Such was his impressive performance that the 20-year-old has been offered the same car for the 2010 series by Thorney.

He earned that offer with a fine display at Snetterton.

Ashby made the step-up from the Endurance Fun Cup smoothly after qualifying seventh on an 18-car grid.

He held his position for the first nine laps but took his chance and finished fifth in race one.

For the second race, Ashby started fifth with a nine kilogram weight penalty. After a bad start, the driver fought back and managed to finish fourth.

The last race worked on a reverse grid principle for the top eight, based on a car number chosen at random by the winner of the previous race.

This saw Ashby third on the grid with an 18kg weight penalty and surrounded by the top five drivers in the championship.

The gifted young driver was overtaken from the start was was forced to work hard to secure sixth-place, finishing eight seconds behind the winner.

Ashby will now have to find sponsorship to compete in the cup next year and anyone interested can call 07887 543695.