Triple Eight, the team that ran in the BTCC under the Vauxhall banner for the last twelve seasons, look set to compete in 2010 albeit without manufacturer backing.

The team, who still own two of last season’s Vauxhall Vectras, conducted a test at Rockingham on Friday, with Phil Glew, the Renault Clio Cup champion, and Dean Smith, the British Formula Renault champion, taking to the wheel.

On the two drivers, team principle Ian Harrison told Autosport, “Both were very impressive. 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.”

Harrison went on to say, “Of course we’d be very keen to be back in the BTCC this year, 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.”

With the start of the season just three weeks away, there isn’t much time for a deal to be done but no doubt fans will be hopeful that Triple Eight’s plans come to fruition, so that a team that has been central to the entertainment of the championship over the last few seasons, won’t be lost.

Photo Credit: Pete Mainey

Tom Surgay is the Porsche Carrera Cup GB correspondant for 2011. Tom's currently studying English Language with Journalism at Huddersfield University. You can contact him at tom@btcccrazy.co.uk or on twitter @tsurgay.