DESPITE major engine woes Liam McMillan recorded his best British Touring Car Championships result to date when he finished 13th at Donington Park on Sunday. McMillan, 19, the youngest driver in the BTCC, shown live on ITV 4, considered missing rounds se

DESPITE major engine woes Liam McMillan recorded his best British Touring Car Championships result to date when he finished 13th at Donington Park on Sunday.

McMillan, 19, the youngest driver in the BTCC, shown live on ITV 4, considered missing rounds seven, eight and nine.

But, with an old and underpowered engine in his Maxtreme SEAT Toledo, he showed great determination to finish two of the day's three races.

Engine builder Oreca had been unable to rebuild the two 16-valve engines, which had failed in the two previous race meetings, at Brands Hatch and Thruxton.

McMillan, from Wisbech, used an old emergency unit, 15bhp down on power and more than 10mph slower through the speed trap.

With a fantastic history of racing in the wet, McMillan hoped for rain to redress the huge disadvantage and got his wish.

He moved up several places after a good start and despite being blinded by spray for much of the race he finished 13th.

A broken oil pump caused McMillan missed race two but he started the third race from the back of the 20-car grid and finished 14th.

McMillan said: "It was a case of doing the best we could with the engine we had.

"I made a good start, didn't make any mistakes and despite a lot of aquaplaning and not being able to see anything out of the windscreen for much of the race because of all the spray, I was pleased to finish 13th.

"To start from the back of the grid and finish 14th, after all our problems, wasn't too bad."

McMillan will be hoping for better luck when he races in the next round at Oulton Park on May 30-31.

He said: "I won all three of my SAXMAX races there in 2006. I love the circuit and if I have the car underneath me, I think I can do well.