Touring Cars: Hughes confirms second season with Speedworks (From Northwich Guardian)

Tony Hughes ready for British Touring Cars Championship return with Speedworks Motorsport

2:30pm Thursday 26th January 2012 in Motorsport By Andrew Simpson

TONY Hughes will return for a second season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Cars Championship with Northwich outfit Speedworks.

The Cheshire businessman will again be behind the wheel of a Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC)-spec Toyota Avensis, he confirmed today, Thursday.

“I’m hoping to come back much stronger,” he said.

“Being on the same grid as the likes of [champion] Matt Neal and Jason Plato has lost none of his appeal despite a tough debut season.”

Hughes, 54, was the first driver to finish a race in a car built to regulations introduced to the series in 2011 when he crossed the line in last year’s season opener at Brands Hatch.

But his campaign was beset by steering problems that ruled him out of races at four of the ten rounds, glitches he hopes are behind him now.

A season-high finish of 14th at home circuit Oulton Park gave a glimpse of what he might achieve, with a top ten finish one of his targets this time around.

“We have one or two great additions and upgrades for 2012,” said Hughes.

“I’m hopeful of getting plenty of time in the car during the run-up to the season, which means we can hopefully hit the ground running.”

Hughes is part of a two-drivers line-up at Speedworks this term following the addition of reigning Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup champion Adam Morgan.

The Preston-based youngster’s arrival was confirmed at the annual Autosport International Racing Car Show earlier this month.

Hughes said: “I’m going to enjoy racing alongside him; I think we can push the team forwards much quicker with twice as much data to work with.”

The season starts at Kent circuit Brands Hatch on April 1.