Warrington-based team Xero Competition is poised to make its Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship debut at its home circuit of Oulton Park in Cheshire this coming Sunday 14 May.
Xero will field a Super 2000-spec Lexus IS200 for championship newcomer Adam Jones (Solihull) who, in his karting days, proved a match for the likes of reigning Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso and McLaren-Mercedes F1 test driver Gary Paffett. More recently, the 25-year-old has won single-seater titles against the likes of current GP2 front-runner Adam Carroll.
Team manager Dave Beecroft says Oulton marks the start of a longer-term ambition to establish Xero among the front-running teams in Britain's most popular motor racing championship.
"The long-term plan is to be in the BTCC into the future," said Beecroft. "We know it's going to be hard so Oulton and the following meeting at Thruxton will be used to learn what it's all about. After then, though, we'll begin pushing.
"It's ultra-competitive at this level. Our goals this weekend will be to ensure we start and finish all three races and keep out of all the banging and crashing. A top ten finish would make me very happy..."
Jones, sponsored by Air Cool Engineering (Midlands), will be racing in aid of Sunfields - a Stourbridge residential school for children with severe learning and complex needs. His recent racing career has been in sports cars across Europe, but he's a proven winner - his CV includes French Formula Renault Campus and Formula 3 titles. In his earlier years, in karts, he even beat Alonso in one major international race and also Paffett to a British crown.
The highly-rated Solihull driver said: "I'm thrilled to be a part of the BTCC - it's what I grew up watching and what I always aspired to. I don't think you could sell or be part of a better championship. I know not many people in the UK will know me at the moment, but this is my big chance to make a name for myself in Britain.
"I'm realistic about my chances. It's a late deal and we've not had a real opportunity to test the car in full BTCC-spec so Oulton will be all about learning how the BTCC works. I'd still like to think we can get in among people and cause a bit of a stir."
Jones' only gripe is that he couldn't have a start number of 55. He added: "I used that in karting, but in the BTCC it's already gone so I've settled on 21 - my girlfriend's age! It keeps her happy..."
The BTCC will be in race action three times at Oulton Park on Sunday and the crowds will also be able to meet the drivers for autographs and give-aways during the hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout. In addition, there will be a further six championship races from high-profile manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.
