PICKUP Championship contender Lea Wood maintained his series lead with a victory and second place at Donnington Park.

The latest round of the series saw the Hereford driver once again in a close battle for the honours with reigning Pickup Racing Champion Scott Bourne and David O’Regan.

In the first of two races Wood started from fifth on the grid but was quick to get on the attack.

Michael Smith opened an early gap with Wood second while Lee Rogers and O’Regan were close behind.

It was O’Regan who made the move, leading from lap four, with Wood challenging Smith for second, while Bourne was also threatening too.

"I wasn’t really working with Scott, but I opened the holes and he tended to follow me," said Wood after they both took Smith on the seventh lap.

As the top three all began to close up, Wood made his bid for the lead, but was still defending from Bourne, as only 0.495 secs covered all three.

With two laps to go Wood was ahead and again Bourne followed. O’Regan got back into second but it all came down to the last lap.

"O’Regan was on me, we had a touch and he got down the inside, with Scott (Bourne) going around the outside of us both," added Wood.

"I got back to second before the chicane, but caught the kerbs and lost some speed, Scott got back inside to win, but I was still second."

Starting fourth on the grid for race two, hopes were high of further success for Wood following a quick start.

“I took the outside line and then it was head down and keep constant,” he said.

His lead was starting to grow when the safety car was called out. But after three laps the green flag was out and Wood timed his restart to perfection. “Michael Smith was the only one who went with me, added Wood.

"I backed them up into the chicane, was ready to go at the flag and it worked well."

As Smith’s challenge started to fade, the lead began to grow, but once again it was Bourne back into second.

By lap 10 the lead was up to 4.580 secs.

"I just set a comfortable pace and was able to back off at the end and still win by over seven seconds," Wood added.

"A great weekend and I am still leading the Championship."