SWINDON team Handy Motorsport underlined its growing status as a consistent category frontrunner by returning to the podium during the finale of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

After securing a first-ever front row starting slot with a supreme performance in qualifying, Rob Austin went on to take a magnificent second-place finish in the opening race of the weekend behind Colin Turkington.

It was Handy’s highest ever result in the UK’s biggest championship and also the squad’s second Independents Trophy victory.

“Unfortunately we didn’t have the pace to go with Colin, but we had the pace to hold off JP (Jason Plato)”, said Toyota Avensis driver Austin.

“It’s a huge thing for all of us at Handy Motorsport and the car was amazing.

“Thank you to the team for continuing to develop it to this point.”

While hopes of repeating, or even bettering, the result in race two didn’t work out - the 35-year-old racer - being forced to retire - Austin did mount a storming drive in the final race of the season to carve his way through from the back of the grid into 14th place – a gain of 15 positions.

Added to three podium finishes in 2016 and two Independents wins, Handy Motorsport ended its third season in the championship seventh in the Independents Team Trophy standings, just four points outside the top six and only seven points shy of fifth position.

In the Independents Trophy for drivers, Austin finished his maiden season with the squad in sixth place.

Team principal Simon Belcher said: “In qualifying we showed we had the pace, and we were third fastest in free practice, but we knew the car was good after Silverstone so we came to Brands Hatch on a real high.

“The pace has been there since Snetterton at the halfway point of the season, that was a real breakthrough for the team.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to end the year back on the podium."