SWINDON-BASED Handy Motorsports have been left excited about the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after Rob Austin produced a rapid showing during his maiden test at the wheel.

Concluding the outing at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portugal, within just a few tenths of a second of the quickest touring car on track, Austin and Handy showed an incredible amount of resolve as well as pace after a frustrating engine blow-up on the opening day.

Austin wasn’t able to run during the second day of practice, threatening to de-rail the team’s programme for the remainder of the test, however, the team acquired a fresh powerplant which was driven from the UK to Portimao and fitted to get the 34-year-old back on track for the third and final day last Sunday.

Adapting to the front-wheel drive Toyota impressively well, having raced rear-wheel drive cars in the BTCC in recent years, Pershore driver Austin reeled off very quick and consistently competitive times to depart Portugal in very positive mood.

Reflecting on the test, team principal Simon Belcher said: “I’ve no doubt if we’d had the benefit of the full three days, we would have been even quicker.

“Considering the problem we had with the engine, and the amount of testing time we missed, we all returned to the UK feeling extremely positive – the car is quick and, as we already knew, so is Rob.

“We managed to get a new engine from Swindon Engines and two of our guys drove it straight to Portugal in 23 hours, door to door.

“Our guys then worked through the night on the second day to fit the engine so we could get Rob back out for the final day.

“All in all, it’s been a very positive start for everyone.”

The season itself commences over the weekend of April 2/3 at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent.