Journalist replaces Erdos for Brands

Sutcliffe will replace the team's regular driver, Thomas Erdos, in the BTC Touring class entry, which is backed by Autosport's sister publication Autocar. He had been set to drive a one-off alongside the Brazilian in the team's second car, but build delays forced them to abandon the plan.

Sutcliffe's only tin-top experience is in an Autocar-run VW Golf in the Slick 50 Road Saloon Championship club racing series in 1996, but was a regular frontrunner in the one-make Tuscan championship between '97 and '99. He scored his best result with fourth place in '99, before scoring three wins to take sixth place in the lead factory-run car last year.

"The call came out of the blue," said Sutcliffe. "Thomas has very kindly agreed to step down because he has no title worries. Because the car hasn't raced at Brands Hatch yet, there's no set-up and it's all down to me. I'll be right in the deep end, but I've got no expectations. I'm just going out to have some fun with the big lads."

TMSR team boss Tim Blake has said that he has put no expectation on Sutcliffe's shoulders.

"To be honest, it will be difficult, but I think he'll do well," he said. "He knows Brands well and if he can keep a TVR Tuscan on the road, then he'll be fine. We're reverting back to our old set-up, so the car should be better, and Brands will be a bit tighter because the Indy circuit is short. It could be a case of survival of the fittest."

Sutcliffe will have his first taste of the car in a shakedown run at Pembrey in Wales this Friday.