Chipping Norton’s Alice Powell is set for a F3 Cup title showdown after she was knocked off the top of the standings following a disappointing weekend at Donington Park, Leicestershire.

The Mark Bailey Racing team driver was replaced as the championship leader for the first time this season by Alex Craven following his race win double.

She trails by three points going into the last round at Snetterton on October 26-27.

Powell got off to a decent start in the first race, and held on from a rapid Louis Hamilton-Smith to secure yet another podium with second place to retain top spot.

Powell said after race one: “We’re struggling with the car, and the rotation isn’t right. We should have come here to do some testing really.

“Because it’s a mono shock car we’re struggling in the corners and down the straights.”

Things got worse for Powell before race two had even begun as she failed to get away on the green flag lap.

Since the whole of the grid passed her stationary car she should have started at the back of the grid. Instead, she took up her fourth-placed gridslot and was instantly issued with the ten-second penalty.

And she had to settle for fifth place as Craven took victory from Tristan Cliffe.

Standings (top ten): 1 A Craven 375pts, 2 A Powell 372, 3 T Cliffe 330, 4 L Hamilton-Smith 273, 5 D Karaskas 252, 6 M Harrison 247, 7 H Chart 149, 8 N Robinson 143, 9 O Rae 129, 10 S Wiltshire 125.