SIMON Belcher wrapped up the first half of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season with his second highest points haul of the year at Croft Circuit.

The Swindon driver also secured a best outright result of 18th position in the final race of the meet.

In what was set to be Belcher’s last appearance on track in the BTCC, until the penultimate event of the 2015 campaign at Silverstone in September, he concluded the fifth event of the year in good form with three competitive performances in rounds 13, 14 and 15.

“I’m pleased with a good haul of Independents points and a nice chunk of prize money is a good way to head into the summer break,” Belcher said.

“When we come back [at Snetterton in August], I will be sitting out the first three events as we look to bring in a substitute driver but I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel at Silverstone.”

As a result of finishing 13th, 14th and 12th in the Independents Trophy classification across the three races, the Wiltshire driver has climbed into 14th position in the class championship with Handy ninth in the Independents Team Trophy.

Lining-up 24th on the grid for round 14, Belcher unfortunately stalled and had to fight through from the very back to finish in 21st position before finishing 20th in round 13.

For round 15, Belcher started 21st on the grid and ran the ‘soft’ Dunlop tyre compound for the weekend’s final encounter – the 50th BTCC race to be staged at Croft. Launching from the line well, he negotiated the first few turns safely and managed to move up into 19th position.

Running close behind the Mercedes of Aidan Moffat and aiming to make the most of the early grip of his soft Dunlops, the Wiltshire driver had a brief look at the A-Class into the hairpin at the end of lap one but just wasn’t quite able to edge alongside. Moving into 18th place on lap two, all looked good until he was edged down to 21st at one third distance.

But Belcher fought back to finish 18th after a last lap excursion for Adam Morgan.