Local teams and drivers are aiming to make a big impression at Brands Hatch this Easter as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season kicks off.

Hopes are high that many will be celebrating on the Sunday night.

Wrotham’s Airwaves Racing will start as one of the BTCC favourites, having further developed their new Ford Focus, built to current championship regulations. After a mid-season introduction lead driver Mat Jackson scored his 19th series win in the car late last year and he’s optimistic about their chances.

“We’ve done a lot of work on the car, he said. “Although we haven’t been out testing physically on the circuits, we’ve been doing a lot of rig work to understand how the different parts work. So we’ve covered a lot of distance in terms of that. In terms of progress we’re hoping that all of the work the boys have put in over the winter is going to pay off.”

The team managed to carry out some decent running at Brands Hatch last week with Jackson and recent race winner Aron Smith despite temperatures significantly lower than expected for the time of year. “In the cold conditions with the track surface at 8°C and an ambient of 3°C it’s tough, which doesn’t make it ideal” Jackson commented. “This is literally the first testing that I’ve done this season, however I feel confident that we’re going to be amongst the front runners from the word go at Brands.”

Amongst those watching the team’s progress will be 19-year-old Jake Hill. Son of ITV Sport commentator Simon Hill, he has recently secured a place on Jason Plato’s KX Akademy driver scheme, with funding for a full year in the BTCC-supporting Renault Clio Cup. A prize drive in the Airwaves car is on offer for the champion and Hill’s move follows two promising but budget-restricted part-seasons in the Ginetta GTSupercup.

“It is a bit of a surprise but a very good surprise,” he said. “I’m really happy to be a part of the KX Akademyand Plato and his group of people around him to help strive for success and push me forward as well. It’s a huge side step to Clios from nothing but rear wheel drive in Ginettas but I’m looking forward to it. Great team, great people all around me so it should be a really good year.

“All the cars are the same,” Jake explained. “So it is really all about the driver and focus. The last couple of years have lost a bit of focus but now I think I’ve got it back and this year I’m really looking forward to it, going in there, no expectations as such, not expecting to win but I am expecting to do well, so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be mega.

“All my sponsors are Kent based, so that helps and I know the track inside out. I’ve always done well here and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s the perfect place, I just hope it’s going to be dry, that’ll be even better. Just wait and see!”

Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on 30/31 March are available in advance from £26 with free admission for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk