Club class driver Henry Gilbert is looking to extend his lead in the Pirelli-supported MINI Challenge as the series moves to Oulton Park on Saturday 28 July for the fifth round of the season.

After the championships opening four rounds, Gilbert currently holds a 25-point lead in the overall leaderboard over second-placed Jono Brown. Lee Allen holds the third overall podium spot but successfully leads the John Cooper Works Class, 18 points ahead of fellow JCW driver Chris Smith.

It has also recently been annonced that British Touring Car Championship driver Paul ONeill will make an outing in the Pirelli-backed MINI Challenge later in the season.

Based in Cheshire, Oulton Park will host two 20-minute races in the highly competitive single-make series that uses renowned Italian firm Pirelli as the championships sole tyre supplier. Now in its 11th year, the MINI Challenge has established itself as one of the most prestigious one-make championships in the UK.

Pirelli UK Motorsport Operations Manager Matthew Corby commented: The MINI Challenge has been growing from strength to strength this season, and it is encouraging to hear that Paul ONeill will also be making an appearance later in the season. The championship title is still very much up for grabs, with less than 35 points separating the top three crews and I am certain that the fierce competition will make for an exciting spectacle at Oulton Park. The weather is expected to be dry on Saturday but Pirelli will be on hand at the track to supply and advise the best tyres to use on the day.

Series promoter Paul Harvey said: Oulton Park always produces some great MINI Challenge racing: it is technical, and favours the brave. Expect some tight first lap action from the front runners."