This was his first race ever in a Formula Ford 2000 car and his first ever time to race at Road Atlanta.

Dempsey was in America for a test at Miller Motorsport Park Utah in his Star Mazda and then travelled with the Andersen Racing Team to Road Atlanta to act as a mechanic but when one of the drivers could not compete the team put Dempsey in the car.

With a borrowed helmet, race suit and gloves, Dempsey jumped into the car for qualifying and astounded everybody when he appeared second quickest on the time sheets having only completed five laps around the circuit.

He finished fourth on the grid only 0.5 of a second off the pace after completing 10 laps.

He was very disappointed when his clutch failed as he left to go to the grid for race one and had to sit and watch the race from the first corner.

For race two it was wet but once again Dempsey surprised everyone by going fastest. He qualified third on the grid and finished second behind championship leader and team mate Anders Krone, a brilliant result.

“It has been great as it was totally unexpected. I had no race clothing with me so I had to borrow everything,” he said.

“I am glad I was able to help the team have its second one/two of 2008. It is off to Miller Motorsport Park Utah next week to race in the Star Mazda championship, let’s hope that might go one better.”

The fifth and sixth rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship will take place in Spain, at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo next weekend.

This is the fifth consecutive visit of the FIA Touring Cars to the Spanish stadium-like racetrack.

The Valencian event will mark the beginning of WTCC’s European season after the first two race meetings held in Brazil and Mexico.

The activities on the track will start on Friday with a 30-minute test session at 3pm giving the teams the opportunity to shake their cars down.