The BRDC Rising Star claimed pole position with an inspired tyre call in the dying embers of a competitive qualifying session on Saturday, switching to slicks on a drying track surface and duly taking top spot with a 1:21.558.

In front of a capacity trackside audience at the 1.9 mile Leicestershire circuit, the Vantage Motor Group and GardX Protection-backed racer then dominated, streaking away to a 7.1 second lead at the chequered flag.

Westbourne Motorsport team-mate James Colburn had initially taken the lead, but a bold move to the inside of Redgate by Dorlin handed the position back, from which he built his advantage and claimed a first win of the season - the third of his career in the category.

With the ITV4 cameras rolling nationwide for the final race on Sunday afternoon, Dorlin headed up the second row in third, courtesy of his second fastest time in qualifying.

Colburn put in another lightnight getaway to lead the Westbourne duo, but after trading second position between them, he was forced into avoidance of the race leader and off-circuit, presenting Dorlin with an opportunity to zone in on a perfect score.

Another bold move into the Old Hairpin did the trick, though rookie Bradley Burns and Jack McCarthy kept the Barnsley based racer honest to the chequered flag - including a dramatic last corner trip through the gravel trap - the final margin of victory just over three tenths of a second.

As a result, Dorlin moves up to 4th in the standings, just 9 points adrift of the championship lead.

The championship reconvenes next at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire across the weekend of 19-20 May - the scene of Dorlin’s first victory in the series nearly twelve months ago.

James Dorlin said, “It’s been an amazing weekend and to come away with a perfect score is exactly what we needed. The performance has been there, but we haven’t quite had the luck so far this year, so to get back on track is fantastic.

“I owe a huge thank you to a lot of people. My sponsors - Vantage Motor Group, GardX Protection, Prototype Creative, DTFS and Harlequin Teamwear - along with everybody at Westbourne Motorsport for preparing the car to such a high standard - it was flawless.

“Now we need to carry this momentum forward to Thruxton. Obviously I have very happy memories of the circuit after taking my first victory there last year and it’s one of my favourite tracks. The key now is to stay focused and try and repeat that performance in three weeks’ time.”