SALISBURY'S teenage motor racing sensation Ross Curnow had a weekend of dramatically mixed fortunes - beating Ayrton Senna's nephew on the track at Brands Hatch on Sunday then, ironically, failing his driving test on Monday.

The 17-year-old Bishop Words-worth's boy, who currently enjoys a substantial lead in the rookie section of the Formula BMW Championship, has to be driven to all his races by his dad.

But he had high hopes that the same skill and presence of mind which earned him a place at the top of the podium alongside senior racers last time out, would carry him successfully around the streets of Salisbury and qualify him to take the wheel of the family's Renault Clio.

But it wasn't to be.

The race ace was marked down for hesitating on a mini-roundabout - not an obstacle he has to negotiate at 130mph on the best circuits in the land.

The disappointed teenager said: "I didn't tell my examiner what I do at the weekends. I thought it was probably best not to.

"I'll try again and hopefully I'll pass next time."

And the failed test wasn't the only thing to take the shine off Curnow's latest championship rounds.

His practice session was marred by his involvement in a crash at 100mph.

Curnow escaped unhurt but the pile-up sent him spinning off the track and damaged three corners of his car.

Dad Alan said: "It wasn't Ross's fault. He got caught up in someone else's accident.

"The team were flat out just to get the car back together in time for the first qualifying round.

"But it wasn't quite right and it was all Ross could do to attempt some damage limitation and just get around safely and pick up a few points."

However, the second race saw Ross back to form.

He qualified as first rookie and held his position throughout the race to finish tenth overall and stretch his lead over nearest title rival Sam Bird to 46 points.

The steady performance leaves him in the enviable position of being within sight of winning the championship in his debut year and clinching a £35,000 BMW scholarship.

There are two meetings to go but, if Curnow can turn in two good finishes at Rockingham in a fortnight's time, he will be able to travel to the final contest of the Formula BMW season with the title already in the bag.

Then all he needs to do is pass his driving test, and his motoring accomplishments will be complete.