EASTLEIGH racer Shane Kelly powered his Opel-engined Dellara to a podium finish in the latest round of the ARP Formula Three series at Silverstone.

The former Silverstone racing school champion, who is backed by the local Swan Centre, qualified fifth out of 18 cars - his best performance of the season - and actually improved on that in the last race of the day when he was fourth overall and third in class.

Earlier Kelly had lost out in a great scrap for fourth place, but considering he was battling with and in some cases beating works drivers, it was a good performance and a boost for his first ever visit to the Formula One Circuit at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium for the next round of the championship on June 6.