SWINDON’S HMS Racing is looking for a major turnaround in fortunes in the Dunlop Touring Car Trophy when the fourth race meeting of the season takes place at Brands Hatch this weekend.

A fortnight ago, at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire, HMS driver Alex Day experienced another frustrating TCT outing when a troubling recurring misfire – which first raised its head during the preceding event at Donington Park – impacted genuine podium-finishing potential.

Making sensational starts to both Croft races at the wheel of his British Touring Car Specification Audi A4, Colchester’s Day surged off the line to climb from fifth to second in the opening encounter before having to settle for fourth.

In race two, Day again lit-up the rear wheels perfectly to slice his way through from fourth on the grid into second on the run towards the first corner, and he was about to challenge for the lead before the Audi suddenly broke down.

Therefore, Day is more determined than ever to turn the tables on his ‘home’ track, Brands Hatch and deliver the sort of result which he and the team know the package is more than capable of delivering.

“After a difficult outing at Croft, where the car showed real pace, but electrical gremlins conspired against the team, I’m looking forward to a more fruitful weekend”, said Day.

“Having previously had three wins in the Junior Saloon Car Championship at Brands, I’m excited about my chances of two good finishes.

“The HMS guys have worked hard since Croft to iron out the issues we had, so we’re all hoping it will be a trouble-free weekend.

“My pace off the line has been very good, so the aim is for that to yield some good results at Brands.”

July is an action-packed month for HMS which, last week, returned to the track with its Alfa Romeo Giulietta during the Kwik-Fit British Touring Car Championship’s officially timed Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton in Norfolk.

Piloted by Rob Austin, who is taking a sabbatical from the BTCC this year along with HMS, HMS topped the last of the four sessions and were an impressive sixth overall on combined times from the two days.

All attention now, though, turns back to TCT where the whole team is hungrier than ever to see Day make a deserved return to the podium.

Simon Belcher, HMS Racing team principal, said: “Croft was a major disappointment for all of us, and not least Alex after two fantastic starts.

“The guys have been working incredibly hard to try and make sure there is no recurrence of the misfire, going through the Audi with a fine-tooth comb, so we’re heading to Brands aiming for a strong, rewarding weekend.”