swindon’s HMS Racing are determined to make a return to the podium when Croft Circuit near Darlington welcomes the inaugural visit of the Dunlop Touring Car Trophy this weekend.

Piloted by 19-year-old driver Alex Day, HMS’ ‘Sherman’ Audi A4 has already been taken to the TCT podium – during round one at Oulton Park back in May – but the visit to Donington Park a week ago proved far less fruitful.

With a driveshaft breakage on the grid before the first of the two races halting any hope of a strong finish, Day hit back impressively at the start of the second contest by making terrific progress from the back of the grid.

Incredibly, a developing misfire late on led to a frustrating result of seventh.

All eyes now are on a turnaround in fortunes at Croft, where the 2.12-mile track should lend itself very well indeed to the rear-wheel drive Audi.

With Day improving each time he heads out on track too, confidence is high ahead of rounds five and six.

HMS team principal Simon Belcher said: “It’s good to be back in action so soon after Donington and we’re all feeling confident for the visit to Croft.

“It’s a track which should really suit the Audi as it favours rear-wheel drive and it should actually be our strongest circuit on the TCT calendar.

“Alex is improving with every outing Hopefully we can have a more straightforward weekend than we had at Donington and be back where we should be.”

HMS Racing has brought vast experience from the British Touring Car Championship into the inaugural season of the new Dunlop Touring Car Trophy and the squad is certainly aiming to make that count at Croft.

Aside from the misfortune of Donington, the season has gone relatively smoothly so far.

Day commented: “Croft is one of my favourite tracks and it will suit our car far better than Donington did.

“I’m interested to see how it pans out, but we are all confident of mounting a challenge for the podium and having two strong races.”