The count down has begun: there are now less than two weeks to go before the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) makes its only trip of the year outside of the UK to the Mondello Park circuit in Ireland on Sunday 23 April.

The BTCC is Britain's most popular motor racing championship, with the country's top teams and drivers doing battle in 30 races over the next seven months to find out who will win the coveted title.

Mondello Park near Naas, Ireland's premier motor racing venue, is all set for its annual BTCC meeting. And there is still a chance to book tickets in advance at discounted prices by calling the hotline on 0906 780 0585 - race day admission for adults is €27.50/£18.00. Children aged 15 and under get in for free. And on race day, the gates will be opened for the public and families to meet the BTCC's star drivers for autographs and give-aways during the hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout.

After Sunday's opening rounds at Brands Hatch in Kent, James Thompson leads the standings in his new SEAT Leon. But right behind in second, enjoying his best-ever start to a BTCC season, is Northern Ireland's Colin Turkington, driving Team RAC's MG ZS. The 24-year-old from Portadown took a fourth and two seconds on Sunday and is a former double winner at Mondello.

Also getting off to a strong start at Brands Hatch was Irishman Gavin Smith, the Rathfarnham racer achieving a best result of fourth in Vauxhall's Astra Sport Hatch and he will arrive at his home circuit of Mondello lying sixth in the overall Drivers' standings.

But Turkington and Smith will have a job on their hands - this year's BTCC grid is one of the most competitive on record and among the other big star names are SEAT's Jason Plato, Vauxhall team-mates Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom Chilton and the reigning BTCC Champion himself, Matt Neal, in the Team Halfords Honda Integra.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow says: "In recent years, Mondello has produced some of the BTCC's most exciting racing and a fair few controversial moments among the drivers. It's that kind of track and it makes for a great spectacle.

"I'm also sure with Colin and Gavin having done so well in the opening rounds at Brands Hatch there'll be a lot of support for them this year. We always receive a tremendous reception from the Irish people and the whole championship is looking forward to once again racing at Mondello Park."

The BTCC will be in race action three times at Mondello Park on 23 April. In addition, there will be another four races from prestige manufacturers BMW and Porsche, with their Formula BMW UK and Porsche Carrera Cup GB championships, plus the latest rounds of Ireland's very own Formula Sheane and Dunlop Supercars series.