INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines--The hitech junior team continued its run of success with Filipino-Swiss racer Marlon Stockinger taking his very first podium finish along with teammate Nick Yelloly in the 2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Winter Cup at Rockingham on Saturday.

Stockinger?s second place effort in the round topped by Tom Blomqvist elevated him to fifth overall.

Another strong pace in pre-event testing saw the two 18-year-olds consistently among the pacesetters, with Stockinger topping the times in the second of three sessions on Friday.

During Saturday morning?s qualifying session which would decide the grid for the two races?based on first and second quickest lap times?they each posted the third and fourth quickest times to grab row two starts for both rounds.

Stockinge surge into the lead at the first corner after a poor getaway from pole man Harry Tincknell, who eventually landed third.

Yelloly too made the most of Tincknell?s mistake to follow Stockinger through, but as the pack entered the first left hand hairpin, it was Blomqvist who exited in the lead with Sotckinger second ahead of Yelloly.