KNUTSFORD driver Tony Hughes will use this weekend’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship curtain-raiser to learn about his car.

The series debutant heads to Brands Hatch with fellow newcomers Speedworks Motorsport, from Northwich, after a single test in a new-specification Toyota Avensis.

“I’ll be honest, I feel more than a little apprehensive," he said.

“I’m looking forward to being there though and everybody is keeping their fingers crossed.”

Hughes was restricted by fuel pump and power steering problems to a handful of laps at last week’s first collective test at Silverstone.

He managed more during a day-long session at Oulton Park on Tuesday.

“We’re in better shape now,” he said.

“It wouldn’t be so bad if we had received the car when we were supposed to at the end of January as I could have had lots of practice and ironed out the faults.”

He told the Guardian that the power steering is still causing a headache to the team’s mechanics, while a vibration under braking worsened in the afternoon at his home circuit.

Team principal Christian Dick is keen to collect more information to help with the car’s set-up to.

Hughes added: “The engine ran well and the gearbox is absolutely amazing, but we simply need more time to test the car.

“There are still a couple of major issues to resolve, primarily with the steering and brakes, and if we can’t get them sorted I won’t be able to race.”

Hughes will make history this weekend as one of the first drivers to race a Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) new to the series in 2011.

The NGTC cars, introduced to the championship to reduce costs to teams by half, will have two-litres turbo-charge engines built and supplied by BTCC series organisers TOCA.

Fellow newcomer Frank Wrathall (Dynojet Racing) is due to pilot an Avensis too.

Two practice sessions on Saturday are followed by qualifying for Sunday’s triple-header race day, which is to be broadcast live on terrestrial television by ITV.


Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
Round One
April 2 and 3
Brands Hatch
Timetable
Saturday

1000-1040 Free Practice 1
1235-1315 Free Practice 2
1540-1610 Qualifying (to be streamed live on ITV.com

Sunday
0910-0950 Pit lane walkabout and driver autograph session
1135 Pit lane opens
1145 Race 1 (24 laps) (to be broadcast live on ITV 4)
1355 Pit lane opens
1405 Race 2 (24 laps) (to be broadcast live on ITV 4)
1655 Pit lane opens
1705 Race 3 (24 laps) (to be broadcast live on ITV 4)