........ by rain master McIntosh

THERE’S a dead heat for first place in the Formula Renault UK Championship with Michelin after Sean McIntosh (Vancouver, Canada) turned in a faultless performance over a rain-soaked weekend in Scotland.The 20-year-old won both races despite a robust challenge from Yelmer Buurman (Ubbergen, Holland) in round 13 and blizzard-like conditions in both races. “I didn’t have pole for the second race but other than that it was a perfect weekend,” said the Team Firstair driver. “It’s good to show that I’m capable of winning races regardless of the track conditions and to win four races in a row is great but there’s still plenty of racing ahead to decide this year’s title.”The double win sees McIntosh move into second place in the championship overall, just nine points behind Jarvis. However at the end of the season each driver has to drop their three worst scores, meaning Jarvis and McIntosh are level pegging with only six races left. “Four races ago I didn’t’ think I’d be this close to being in the championship lead,” said McIntosh, who was 71 points behind Jarvis after Croft. “We knew we had a chance of still winning but that it was going to take a bit of luck. We’ve done the best we can over the last few races and it’s paid off.”Visibility at Knockhill was severely limited as the relentless rain created clouds of spray from behind each car. But that did not stop Yelmer Buurman (Ubbergen, Holland) making McIntosh work for his fourth win of the season in round 13. Despite six laps behind the safety car the leading pair pulled out a seven second gap on third place Cong Fu Cheng (Oxford), who scored his first podium in Formula Renault.Buurman thrilled the determined supporters by almost passing McIntosh in a grandstand finish. “I actually touched him on the last lap,” said the 18-year-old, who drives for Fortec Motorsport. “I just couldn’t see anything through the rain. The safety car wasn’t very good for me. It took longer to get the grip after and it’s hard to find your breaking points.”He and James Jakes (Cullingworth, West Yorkshire) again rewarded the crowd’s perseverance with an awesome drive in round 14 which saw them get past a total of 10 cars between them. “I made a good start and passed some cars but then at the first corner I was crowded out and fell back to ninth place,” said Buurman, who was awarded driver of the day for his impressive racing. “After that it was just like people were standing still. Unfortunately when I went off in the first lap something got in my tyre and gave me a puncture so I could not fight James Jakes for second. I think I could have made it quite hard for him.”But Jakes, who drives for Team AKA, did not agree.  “I don’t think he could have taken me,” said the 18-year-old. “I got the got the fastest lap of the race after all. I’ve always been quite quick in the rain. It makes it more difficult but I’m always up for new challenges.”In round 13 Cheng was awarded driver of the day for his great defence work which earned him his first podium. “It feels good,” said the 21-year-old Manor Motorsport drivers who finished ahead of his two team-mates, Oliver Jarvis (Burwell, Cambs) and Patrick Hogan (Killiney, County Dublin). “Without their data I would not have been on the podium. The car has been good all season but I’ve made a real improvement in myself. I’m more relaxed and I enjoyed the race.”