MARK Wakefield has admitted a change in fortunes during the closing stages of last season convinced him he can challenge for overall honours in 2019.

The Northwich driver stood on the podium after three of the final four races in the Volkswagen Racing Cup, winning two of those, to end his debut campaign on a high.

READ > Mark Wakefield boosted by pair of VW Racing Cup wins

It convinced series organisers to present him with a Best Newcomer prize during their awards ceremony last weekend.

“I didn’t expect anything,” said the 21-year-old.

“But it’s nice to know people noticed what I did.”

A sequence of impressive results started at Oulton Park, his home circuit, in August when he classified sixth in the first race and started the second from pole position.

READ > Weaverham racer makes progress at Oulton Park

Wakefield then celebrated a maiden victory at Croft, a track he hadn’t driven around before arriving at the North Yorkshire venue for a test 48 hours earlier.

He signed off for 2018 by crossing the line first again at Donington Park during the final round.

Mark Wakefield celebrates on the podium at Donington Park after securing a second win of the season in his Team HARD Racing-prepared VW Golf

A deal to stay with Team HARD Racing, home to the champion in each of the past two years, was agreed and announced before Christmas and prompted the Weaverham-based ace to tell the Guardian he has unfinished business in the series.

He added: “It’s given me peace of mind to have finished last year the way I did and to have everything in place for 2019 relatively early because I’m usually scrambling around in January trying to figure out what I’m going to do.

“I’m happy; I’ve proven I’m quick in this car and can set fast laps and win races.

“I want to improve on that though and win a title, something I haven’t done since I was still at school and racing karts!”

READ > First VW Racing Cup win for Northwich ace

He will again be behind the wheel of a VW Golf which will be engineered by Craig Arnold.

Wakefield has insisted his friend, who he worked with during four seasons in the MINI Challenge UK, be present at every round this time after only playing a bit-part role last year.

It was Arnold’s suggestion he should ignore what his rivals were doing and opt for a different tyre that delivered a thrilling victory in drying conditions Donington, where Wakefield surged from fifth to first during the final two laps.

“That wasn’t a coincidence and I think we showed then that things were heading in the right direction,” he added.

A new season starts at Oulton Park in April when the Volkswagen Racing Cup provides support to the British GT Championship.