AmD gives VW racer Aaron Mason British Touring Car debut
British Touring Car squad AmD Tuning will give Aaron Mason his series debut at Oulton Park this weekend
AmD's S2000 Volkswagen Golf is normally driven by James Kaye, but business commitments mean he has had to stand down.
Mason, who currently leads the VW Racing Cup standings, said: "I'm really excited about the chance to get behind the wheel of a touring car.
"I already have a relationship with AmD from the VW Cup, and when the chance to race the Golf came along, I wasn't going to turn it down.
"Getting to the BTCC is the kind of thing I could only dream of when I started racing five years ago, so I'm glad to have the opportunity to give it a go."
The 33-year-old believes he can be competitive among the Jack Sears Trophy runners in the S2000 class.
"I'm not going to go into the weekend expecting too much as I know it is a big step up," he added.
"Ultimately, the first aim has to be to secure three finishes from the weekend, but if I could finish in the top three in the Jack Sears Trophy, then it would be fantastic.
"My main focus this season is to win the VW Racing Cup but it'll be interesting to see how I get on this weekend, and who knows where it might lead for 2014."
AmD team principal Shaun Hollamby believes Mason will do a good job, despite his lack of time in the car.
"Unfortunately, James has a last minute business commitment he couldn't reschedule, but it's fantastic we're able to give Aaron the opportunity to make his BTCC debut," he said.
"We know him well from the VW Racing Cup, where he has really shown himself to be one of the stand out drivers over the last few years.
"I have no doubt that if he was in the car longer term, he would be a contender for the Jack Sears Trophy, but this weekend is all experience and if we are able to come away from the weekend with some silverware, then it will be a huge bonus."
BTCC star back in a Cosworth
Andy Neate postpones IP Tech Chevrolet's BTCC debut
BTCC Knockhill: Gamble claims maiden BTCC win in finale
British Touring Car Championship rookie George Gamble took his maiden series victory in the reversed-grid finale to the Knockhill round.
BTCC Knockhill: Sutton takes first Ford win after close Hill fight
Reigning British Touring Car champion Ash Sutton finally claimed his first victory of the 2022 season at Knockhill after another thrilling battle with Jake Hill.
BTCC Knockhill: Hill wins Race 1 after thrilling Sutton fight
Jake Hill took victory in the first race of the Knockhill round of the British Touring Car Championship after a scintillating battle with Ash Sutton.
BTCC Knockhill: Hill on pole as BMWs dominate qualifying
Jake Hill took a dominant British Touring Car Championship pole position at Knockhill as a sea of five BMWs flooded the top six.
How the BTCC's new hybrid era aced its first test
Expectations were high for the start of the British Touring Car Championship’s hybrid power era, and despite nerves and problems to solve prior to its debut the new rules gained widespread approval. Here’s how the first test at Donington Park was passed and the thorough examinations that are to follow
The Ford BTCC superteam combining two reigning TOCA champions
Reigning BTCC champion Ash Sutton and Porsche Carrera Cup GB victor Dan Cammish form a potent line-up at the Motorbase-run NAPA Racing team as the series adopts hybrid power. With Sutton bringing the key components of his title-winning Laser Tools Racing set-up, and Cammish eager to prove a point on his return, their dynamic is set to be one of the season's major talking points
The stalwart tin-top boss still shaping careers more than 40 years on
Veteran team manager Marvin Humphries and former Tech-Speed team boss has worked not only with stars of the British Touring Car Championship, but legends including Gil de Ferran, Hans Stuck and Tom Sneva in a long and varied career that has spanned five decades across tin-tops, single-seaters and sportscars
The grassroots rise that shaped an understated BTCC star
Having started out in club-level competitions alongside his own university engineering studies, Josh Cook's journey to becoming an established frontrunner in the British Touring Car Championship is atypical. But it's these experiences that have moulded the 30-year-old into a humble star, respected throughout the paddock
Ranking the top 10 BTCC drivers of 2021
A refresh in equipment and some returning faces helped contribute to a supremely competitive 2021 British Touring Car Championship campaign. Ash Sutton was crowned a three-time champion, successfully defending his 2020 title, but faced stiff competition in the final year before the switch to hybrid. Autosport picks out the best performers
Why the BTCC's ballast increase couldn't stop champion Sutton
Ballast will be gone from the BTCC next year as hybrid power enters the scene, but for its final season the maximum was increased from 60kg to 75kg. Despite having to carry that nearly all season, Ash Sutton was always the favourite to pocket a third title - the 27-year-old getting his reward for a season of speed tempered by savvy to nail his opportunities
The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59
OPINION: It's not often that a driver achieves widespread affection for their personality, as well as their on-track performances. One such individual is Gabriele Tarquini, who will soon bring the curtain down on a remarkable career that has yielded touring car titles on the European and global stage - and, famously, in Britain too
The making of the BTCC's newest superstar
Ash Sutton is on the verge of being crowned a three-time British Touring Car Champion; he seems to have it all. But life hasn't always been straightforward for this superstar of touring cars, as Marcus Simmons has been finding out