RORY Collingbourne continued his impressive early-season form with a third Pro-Am podium of the 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Donington Park.

The Newport racer, who claimed a podium brace on his return to domestic competition at Brands Hatch, was also the victim of contact in the final race, denying him a first class victory.

Qualifying didn’t go to plan for the Welch Motorsport driver, with a puncture on his first run hampering his progress before a red flag during the second preventing any improvement.

Regardless, the Dreams & Wishes ambassador made another lightning getaway in the Porsche 911 GT3, coming through from the back of the Pro-Am field to claim the final spot on the podium.

Collingbourne’s form has certainly made quite an impression, with the 20-year-old carrying over his impressive showings from a campaign spent in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo in Asia.

The weekend could have been crowned with a first victory in the class for the Veloce Sports-managed driver, with another strong start allowing Collingbourne to demonstrate overtaking prowess as he clawed his way forward to the front of the field.

Heading side-by-side with Dan Vaughn into the final chicane, contact to the rear of Collingbourne’s car pitched the latter into the gravel trap, prematurely ending what could have been a stand-out result in only his second weekend in the championship.

The Welsh racer now looks forward with renewed optimism to the highly- competitive single-make series’ third meeting at the world-famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy this weekend.

“There are plenty of positives for us to take forward,” he said. “Whilst ultimately it would have been great to take a first Pro-Am victory at only my second meeting in the car, it wasn’t to be.

“Coming from the back of the field to take a third consecutive podium in the opening race highlighted the pace we have and how strong the car is, so there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be able to come back out at Monza and fight at the front end of the field once again.

“A massive thank you to everyone at Welch Motorsport and my sponsors for their support.

“We’ll come back stronger, and that first win isn’t far away at all.”