Ireland's Gavin Smith will make his Green Flag MSA British Touring Car debut on home ground when the championship's latest three rounds are staged at County Kildare's Mondello Park circuit on 12-13 June.

Smith will replace Kelvin Burt in Team Sureterm's Vauxhall Astra Coupe. The 25-year-old currently lies second in the Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship that is not in action in Ireland, leaving him free to fulfil his ambition of racing in the BTCC. He is excited at the prospect of racing in Britain's premier motor racing series on its only visit of the year to Ireland.

"The BTCC is where I want to be full-time and this is a golden opportunity to show what I can do, particularly with my knowledge of Mondello and in front of my home crowd," said Rathfarnham-based Smith.

"I will only have two 45-minute sessions on the Saturday morning to acclimatise to the speed of the BTCC Astra and then it will be straight into qualifying before Sunday's three races.

"My goal is to finish in the top ten and score some points, although it's going to be a whole new world. The BTCC is the pinnacle of touring car racing and the action makes it one of the most exciting championships anywhere in the world. But I'm confident I can cut it and that my performances could leave the door open for a return later in the season."

Should he go on to win the Cupra title, Smith, who has already won three of the championship's opening six rounds, will guarantee himself a touring car drive with SEAT in 2005.