Smith and Glew test for Triple 8
Multiple British Touring Car Championship-winning team Triple 8 Engineering returned to the track for the first time this winter by testing McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Dean Smith and Phil Glew at Rockingham on Friday
Smith and Glew, who took the Formula Renault UK and Renault Clio Cup titles last year, both drove one of the team's ex-works Vauxhall Vectras during the day.
"Both were very impressive," Triple 8 team principal Ian Harrison told AUTOSPORT. "Phil obviously has a fair bit of front-wheel drive experience and made a good account of himself.
"Dean, meanwhile, has never driven front-wheel drive before, but he adapted very quickly and was very professional. I'm very happy with what both drivers managed."
Triple 8 ran Vauxhall's BTCC programme for 13 years and delivered seven titles in that time, but its participation in this season's championship has been in doubt since the manufacturer withdrew at the end of 2009.
The squad still owns two Vectras though and Harrison said he would be very keen to return to the series.
"Of course we'd be very keen to be back in the BTCC this year," he added. "But obviously everybody has to find a budget to run and we're no different. If we can put a deal together with the right driver, then we'll be there."
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