Howell makes series return with Lexus

As part of the deal, Howell, 27, who has three wins to his name and finished 14th in a half-season in a Motorbase SEAT last year, will stand in for team regulars Stuart Oliver and Chris Stockton at selected races through the year.

"BTC approached me just before Christmas, and it looked like we were going to do a full deal, but then Stuart came on the scene with a load of money, and so he got the drive instead," Howell told autosport.com.

"I'll still be at all the BTCC races, but I'll only race at two or three of them, as there are a couple of events that either Stuart or Chris can't do."

The former Team Dynamics front-runner's first races of the season will be at Thruxton in May, a round that Stockton is unavailable for. Howell is also expected to race at the Snetterton and Oulton Park rounds in July when Oliver will probably focus on his British and European Truck Racing campaigns.

Howell's deal leaves him free to look for drives in other series, as long as the dates do not clash with the BTCC.

He confirmed he will go to Sears Point in the USA in April to test a Scion-Toyota for Marshall Pruett's SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car squad, and is hopeful of securing a full-time ride with them.