The Newmarket-based driver headed to Silverstone with a slender five-point advantage over title rival Tim Harvey.

However, the Team Parker driver got off to the worst possible start as he suffered a gearbox problem on the grid during the opening race.

With only two functioning gears, Caine dropped down to 11th place, before slowly picking his way through the field.

But he could only finish fifth after running into an oil patch left on the track following a collision between team mate Tim Bridgeman and Phil Quiafe.

With the Northamptonshire track drying up, the former TVR Tuscan champion was then sent out on a dry set up for the second race, enabling the 38 year old to make a flying start and take up second place.

But as the race wore on the rain came down and scuppered the Newmarket driver's hopes of a podium finish as he had to settle for fourth spot.

Taking full advantage of the Team Parker's mechanical problem was arch rival Tim Harvey who took the chequered flag in both races.

The former British Touring Car champion now leapfrogs the car salesman in the table to take up a seven-point lead going into the final two races.

Caine said: "With nobody making any big mistakes at the weekend the title is still all to play for. Things can turn so quickly in this championship."

The championship returns to the track in three weeks time at Brands Hatch.