PENCOMBE rally driver George Thomas is still on course for a top rally championship.

The 19-year-old picked up maximum points for the second time in a row in the Silkolene 1400 National Rally Championship with a win at the Mansfield-based Dukeries rally.

The Dukeries is the sixth round of the championship and takes place over 45 miles of fast and sandy gravel stages within the Sherwood and Clipstone forests.

Thomas and his co-driver Graham Hopewell got off to a great start in the sweltering conditions and made excellent use of running first to pile up a 20-second lead after the first stage in their Vauxhall Nova. But by the last stage, the lead had been whittled down to a single second before Thomas kept his nerve to secure a convincing last leg win.

"This is a fantastic result and more than I dared hope for on one of the hardest rally venues," said Thomas. "We've boosted our lead but it's still all to play for."