Barwell steps up to Touring Class

Barwell, which came third in the Production teams' championship this year with drivers James Kaye and Simon Graves, will run two Astra Coupes next year alongside the planned four-car squad of works team Triple Eight.

Vauxhall has committed factory support for two cars run by Triple Eight, while the team itself is looking for extra backing to run two more cars in a manner similar to the Egg Sport deal this year. No more Astra Coupes will be built, meaning that the chances of any other teams running the dominant machines is highly unlikely.

Although Barwell's graduation to the Touring class with customer Astra Coupes has been expected for some time, the identity of the first driver signed to the team has come as a shock. Barwell has signed junior T-Cars saloon racer Tom Chilton for its first seat, while this year's drivers Kaye and Graves must fight over the second seat.

The 16-year-old, who, by turning 17 just two weeks before the season opener, will become the youngest ever BTCC driver in history, has yet to secure his International C licence. He will compete in several Winter Series this year to secure his upgrade, however. Chilton will also conduct an extensive off-season test schedule in a bid to get used to the higher-powered front-wheel drive touring cars.

Barwell team manager Mark Lemmer said: "We are delighted about our graduation to the highest level of British motorsport, and have put together an incredibly exciting package. Tom is a very promising young driver and, with an experienced team mate to learn from, should be fully up to speed by the first round."

Barwell is also planning to continue its tie-up with Honda factory-based privateer team Synchro Motorsport, which is planning to run a pair of self-built Honda Civic Type-Rs in the Production class next year. Either Kaye or Graves is likely to drive for the team alongside regular Dave Allan.