SWINDON’S Handy Motorsport are looking to make a big step forward in the second half of their season, with driver Rob Austin eyeing a first outright race win.

Snetterton plays host to the resumption of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend after a six-week hiatus.

The triple-header in Norfolk begins the run-in to the series finale in October, with Austin looking to pick up where he left off, having narrowly missed out on his second outright BTCC podium of the season at the last outing in North Yorkshire.

Throughout the first five race meetings Austin and Handy Motorsport made good progress with consistent scoring to sit eighth in the overall in the championship and second in the Independents Trophy standings.

The squad took part in the officially-timed Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton a fortnight ago where a variety of set-up work was conducted and vital data gathered ahead of the return.

“We’re hoping the second half of the season will bring more steps forward,” said Austin.

“Some stuff we tried with the car at the Snetterton tyre test didn’t go exactly as we expected but we learnt a lot and definitely made gains.

“Snetterton will suit us better than some of the other tracks we’ve visited recently.

“We had our first podium there last year and that was basically from the back of the grid in the first race, working our way through in race two and then racing to the podium in the last one.

“We should have a strong car this weekend. I’m really looking forward to it.”

With the Toyota Avensis working well, and Austin growing in confidence in only his second season with a front-wheel drive car, there are strong aspirations of challenging for the Wiltshire squad’s maiden outright victory.

“We’re still learning,” Austin added.

“We’ve taken big strides and I’m still getting to grips with the front-wheel drive but we’re fine-tuning and getting better.

“The target is still to win a race or two this season. I think we have the pace to do it. The team deserves one and I think it would be well earned.

“Championship position-wise we’re looking good in the overall standings and the independents but I’m still kicking myself about Brands Hatch at the start of the year.

“I made a silly mistake there which really did cost us points.”