NORTH Hampshire British Touring Car Championship drivers Nick Foster and Rob Collard start their quest for glory in this year’s championships tomorrow on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

Last season, the West Surrey Racing e-bay Motors drivers found life very hard with their new BMW car, but by the end of the season the results started to come, especially for Colin Turkington.

The team have enjoyed a good winter’s testing and both Collard and Foster are upbeat about their chances and want to finish in the top 10 this campaign.

It is an exciting year for BTCC as two ex-champions Alain Menu and Fabrizio Giovanardi are back on grid.

Odiham driver Foster said: “I feel a lot more comfortable in the car now and I can now drive it to the limit. I am really looking to getting back on the podium. “This year I think a top 10 finish overall is realistic and with 30 cars on the grid qualifying is going to even more important.”

Hook’s Collard is also looking to once again mixing it with the front runners and said: “Last year I failed to finish any race at Brands, so hopefully it will go a lot better for me this time. “I think a top six to eight would be brilliant and is something we are capable of as the car has been very good in testing.”

As well as hoping to do well in the BTCC, Collard will be able to watch his 17-year-old son Ricky in action in one of the support races on Sunday, the single seater Formula Ford Championship.

Proud father Rob Collard said: “It is an exciting weekend for the Collard family and even if Ricky is a rookie in this series he has done well in the car during the winter. “It is certainly going to make the rides home from meeting more interesting this season.”

Ricky Collard will make his debut in Formula Ford after a successful career in karting and is part of the three-car Falcon Motorsport team.

The Hook teenager said: “We have always dreamed of racing as part of the same package and I can’t wait to start.”

After this weekend, it will be younger brother Jordan Collard’s time to shine as the 13- year-old is in action at the British Karting Championship a week on Sunday.

All the action from Brands Hatch will be shown live on ITV4 tomorrow from 10.30am to 6pm.