Tom Onslow-Cole enjoyed his debut for Airwaves Racing in the last round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Although he felt it wasn’t ideal he was satisfied with his debut for the team netting a top ten finish in race two.

Reflecting on the weekend, Tom said: “It wasn’t ideal in terms of results, it is hugely positive for the remaining two rounds.

“Having gone there not knowing many people in team or having ever driven the car before. I left there feeling extremely welcome and part of the family already.

“I really enjoyed driving the car and the pace is there for the next two rounds, all in all it is very exciting.”

Speaking about the opportunity to race for Airwaves, Tom added: “It has all happened quite quickly and it sounds very simple it really wasn’t as there are a lot of people involved. There was plenty of people involved at Motorbase with their sponsors and drivers also.

“I have a lot of personal sponsors that were also party to that move, although it was all initiated on the one quick phone call, there were a few frantic days and nights trying to get it all sorted.”

Looking back at the Rockingham round whilst it didn’t go quite to plan for Tom, Mat Jackson showed the pace was there and this has given Tom confidence going into the Silverstone and Brands Hatch rounds.

He said: “We had flashes of pace in the car, and we should be up where we need to be. In race one unfortunately we got tangled up in somebody else’s accident but we avoided any major damage to the car and it was fine.

“Unfortunately one of the brake lines on the car to the front wheel got pinched and popped where the car was thrown up in the air and back down again, the brake pedal went straight to the floor and that was the end of the race, and not an ideal start to the weekend at all.

“In race two I came from 22^nd to ninth in the dry and my lap times in the latter part of the race showed we were one of the quickest cars on the circuit. It was all very encouraging and was a glimpse of what we can hopefully deliver in the remaining rounds.

“Race three was a difficult one for me really, we made some changes to the car and overall we made a gain, although it was difficult to overtake with a little bit of lack of straight line speed. We were good under braking but were just catching up what I was losing on the straights.

“It was difficult and in trying so hard I was aggressive with my tyres and that made it quite difficult at the end of the race, which is something I can take away for the next race as well.”

The season now moves to Silverstone and Tom is ready and raring to go and show what he can do behind the wheel of the NGTC Ford.

He added: “I am very much looking forward to it, there is a few little bits and pieces going on between now and then. Some things that I think we can try to improve the running and we will see what we can get too.

“I am not just looking forward to Silverstone but Brands Hatch too as I think that will be a thrilling finale to the season. We are on the GP circuit and that is awesome to race on as a driver.

“The car has come on leaps and bounds since the start of the season and fortunately for me, I think I have arrived at the right time and it is time for the three of us to pay the team back with some good results.”

Pictures supplied by PSP Images.