MELLOR Brook’s John Holden made a steady start to his campaign in the Formula One British Sidecar Championship.

Holden and passenger Andy Winkle won the Formula Two championship last year but are competing in the Formula 1 series this year and qualified 11th on the opening weekend of the season at Brands Hatch.

Their qualifying time was only 1.2 seconds behind the pole sitters in a field of 21 sidecars, as they adapt to a large 1,000cc machine this year, and they improved to an encouraging 10th in the first race.

The second race was postponed until Monday due to wet conditions, when Holden and Winkle finished eighth before taking sixth place in the final race.

The duo will now switch to their Formula Two 600cc machine for testing ahead of the Isle of Man TT next month.