ANOTHER two days of superb racing was served up over the weekend before last when the Castle Combe circuit hosted the John Guest Speedfit F3 and GT Festival.

And crowds in excess of 22,000 were able to relish the cut and thrust, not to mention the thrills and spills, of motor racing at its very best.

It proved a splendid outing for GB's Dan Clarke who won his first ever British F3 international race on the Sunday morning.

After taking an early lead, the Raikonnen Robertson Racing driver remained in control throughout to take the chequered flag.

And Clarke was back on the podium again in the afternoon after finishing third in the second race.

In the first GT race, Scuderia Ecosse made it a one-two finish with pole men Nathan Caine and Andrew Kirkaldy taking their Ferrari 360 Modena (no 35) into first place just ahead of the sister car in the hands of Tim Mullen and Chris Niarchos (no 34).

Mike Jordan and Michael Caine took their Team Eurotech Porsche 911 GT3-RSR into third spot.

And race number two saw a repeat one-two performance by Scuderia Ecosse boys.

Of the local drivers, Jonathan Wills and Team 78 gave a splendid account of themselves in the National Mobile Windscreens Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship on the Saturday, almost getting their very first victory.

At the helm of his Ivor Webb & Son-supported MG Maestro, the Cirencester underdog surprised many by knocking an amazing 2.5 seconds off his previous best lap time.

Disappointingly, he had to settle for the runners-up spot after almost beating the seemingly invincible Keith Murray, from Nailsworth, in the Audi Quattro.

Nonetheless, a delighted Mills finished with a smile on his face by winning two cups - one for fastest lap and the other for the Driver of the Day.

Tom Margetson, another Cirencester regular at Castle Combe, was making a first excursion in two years having originally taken up motor-racing in 1999.

Piloting the Chris Cole Snap-on Tools/TM Racing Reynard on the Sunday, the 32-year-old unluckily suffered a gearbox gremlin in the circuit's own Formula Ford 1600 Championship.

But in spite of losing second gear, Margetson soldiered on, bringing home the car in a respectable eighth in class.

"I was always mindful that the car belonged to Chris Cole, who had recently had his first outing in it, and who was obviously hoping to have it back in one piece!" joked Margetson.

Event organisers are pleased to report that, despite a number of accidents that saw two drivers taken to hospital, there were no serious casualties.

There is, however, a cloud hanging over the future of F3 and GT at the Wiltshire racetrack due to complaints of noise levels by a number of local residents.

The issue has resulted in a court case, due to be heard later this month, much to the dismay of circuit proprietor Howard Strawford.