Team HARD’s Tom Barley will make his debut in the Michelin Clio Cup Series race at Brands Hatch this weekend.

He will race for 20Ten Racing has plenty of experience racing around Brands Hatch in both the VW Cup and British Touring Car Championship.

He is absolutely relishing the prospect of racing a 2.0-litre normally aspirated third generation Clio and will join fellow Brands Hatch local Brett Lidsey and Tom Butler in 20Ten’s ranks.

Originally starting out his racing career in historic competition in 2010, Barley was taken under the wing of British Touring Car Championship team principal Tony Gilham a couple of years ago which led to a place on the Team HARD scholarship.

Finishing runner-up, Barley’s performances earned him a spot in the Volkswagen Racing Cup and during his debut season in 2013 he finished an impressive 11th overall at the wheel of an Mk5 Golf GTi with a best finish of fourth place during the overseas visit to Spa-Francorchamps. So far in 2014, he has a best result of second position and is currently 13th in the driver standings.

The career highlight for Barley to date came last October at Brands Hatch, on the full length Grand Prix Circuit, when he debuted in the British Touring Car Championship during the 2013 season finale at the wheel of an RCIB Insurance Racing Vauxhall Insignia.

Speaking about the opportunity to race in the Clio Cup Series, he said: “Clios have always been of interest to me, they’re exciting cars and this new Clio Cup Series has made racing them more affordable which is great”, said the championship newcomer.

“Before I had the chance to race a touring car it was always my dream to be in the BTCC, but now I’ve done that you realise how tough it is financially and also how tough it is on the competition side too.

“My main aim is to have fun racing and be in the best championship I can to achieve that, and with the Clios being equal if I don’t win or get on the podium I know it’s because the drivers ahead of me have done a better job. I’m really looking forward to working with the guys at 20Ten, we’ll see how the weekend goes and that will help towards decisions over where I’m racing next year.”

Qualifying for rounds seven and eight of the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series is scheduled to begin at 10.35 on Saturday, 26th July, with the first race of the weekend following at 15.45. Round eight is set to take place at 15.00 on Sunday, 27th July.