Tom Onslow-Cole heads to his home track of Brands Hatch next weekend full of confidence after clinching his maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship victory last time out.  The Team RAC driver dominated the final round at Snetterton two weeks ago with a lights to flag win, and now the New Malden star returns to the Kent track determined to add to his tally.

In just his first season in touring cars, the 20 year-old has taken four podium finishes, including that popular win in front of the team’s 3000 guests near Norwich.  Now though, with the support of his family and friends behind him, Tom can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the WSR-prepared BMW 320si as he bids for another race win.

“I’m probably the most excited about racing at Brands Hatch next weekend than I’ve been all year really,” said Tom. “It was definitely breaking the back of that win at Snetterton that has given me a lot of confidence and Brands Hatch is a track I’m comfortable at and one where we were quick at the start of the year. 

“We’ve developed the car a lot since then and obviously I’ve developed myself too so I’m feeling really confident heading into that race. It’s a very good feeling.  In terms of pressure, there was actually more at Team RAC’s home circuit of Snetterton last time than for me at my home track as I’ll have a lot of family and friends there to support me.  Of course as always, drivers always put pressure on themselves to do a good job at every track.

“Two years ago I really wasn’t a lover of the circuit, but it’s been good to me over the last two years and I seem to have got to grips with it and mastered it now.  I think we should be on the pace there, it went well at the start of the year and the car’s been developed even more since then so I think we should be very strong.”

The event kicks off with two free practice sessions around the 1.2mile Indy circuit at 09.30 and 12.15 on Saturday followed by the crucial 30 minute qualifying session at 15.25 later that day.  The three races will take place on Sunday at 10.50, 13.35 and 15.40.  ITV4 will show a re-run at 12.30 of race one and then go live for race two, before switching to ITV1 for live coverage of the final race at 14.50.

Championship positions after 21 rounds:

1 Jason Plato 209

2 Fabrizio Giovanardi 195

3 Matt Neal 154

4 Gordon Shedden 139

5 Colin Turkington 113

6 Mat Jackson 111

7 Tom Chilton 108

8 Darren Turner 107

9 Mike Jordan 98

10 Tom Onslow-Cole 95