RACING driver Bradley Smith bagged two more podium places as he stepped up his challenge for the Radical European Master crown.

A third place at Silverstone GP was followed by a dominant win as the Billericay racer cut Tristian Viidas’ lead to just 13 points with three rounds remaining.

The Mectech Racing driver, in his debut year in the European Masters, was second on the grid for the first race but turned that into a pole for the second race.

“We had a good stop too and overall it was a good weekend for me and the team,” said Smith.

“I was struggling a bit bedding in brakes in the first qualifying session but still second best, then got the time I wanted in the second on a clear track for pole, despite the clutch release bearing going.

“It was a good start in the second race and the key thing was to defend from Robbie Kerr at the first corner.

“I expected him to challenge more, but I had already done enough to break the tow by Hanger Straight.

“I had focused on getting the gap at the start but was surprised just how quickly it happened.”

The first race saw chaos at Copse corner on the opening lap and contact from behind damaged the diffuser on Smith’s Radical SR8. He dropped to fifth but once the safety car pitted he took fourth from Christian Kronegard before an early pitstop moved him up to second by the end of lap 15.

But the diffuser continued to break up during the race and with the car becoming unstable Mortimer overtook under breaking into Farm to claim second.

Smith finished third but was ahead of Estonian title rival Viidas.

With the car repaired, Smith made a great start to the second race and was 1.8 seconds clear at the end of the opening lap at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Alex Kapadia briefly led when Smith took another early pitstop but he regained the lead when the Radical works driver pitted and finished more then 18 seconds clear of Speed Factory Racing’s Viidas.

Smith heads to the Belgian GP circuit at Spa Fracorchamps at the beginning of September and Monza at the end of the month.

The season finished in November at the Circuit de Barcelona.