ALICE POWELL’S season-long lead in the F3 Cup Championship is now under threat after a disastrous weekend for the Cotswold racer at Snetterton in Norfolk.

Failing to finish in both races, Alice has had her 26-point lead over Tristan Cliffe reduced to just ten points.

Alice missed out on pole by just 0.160 seconds but, after a great start, she drove a great defensive race from the front to keep Tristan at bay.

In the closing stages they swapped the lead in some exciting racing until Cliffe hit the rear wheel of Alice’s car, sending them both into a vicious spin as they hit the tyre barrier at a speed of more than 100mph, ending the race for them both.

Alice said: “Tristan (Cliffe) caught me up after a few laps and made a good move on me into the last corner. I got a good tow up the main straight and entered into turn one in the lead, when I got hit from behind.

“It did a lot of damage to the car and badly bruised my knees as they hit the side of the car quite hard.”

The stewards investigated the incident and ruled in Alice’s favour. Cliffe was given two penalty points on his licence and an official reprimand.

By Sunday morning, the car was fully repaired and Alice had been cleared to race by the doctors. She started on pole, just ahead of her other championship rival, Alex Craven.

Things looked good for the win, as Alice got a great start to lead the field into the first corner. However, oil had been spilt on the far end of the circuit by a previous race, and Alice was the first to drive over it at race speed. As her car touched the oil, she spun and was collected by Alex Craven, who had no time to react.

Alice summed up the incident saying: “It’s been a weekend to forget.”

There are now only four races remaining, with the next race at Donington Park on September 28-29.