The long wait has nearly ended as this week the teams of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship descend upon the Norfolk circuit and the first time at the new Snetterton 300 layout. One of those teams will be AmD Milltek Racing.com with their new driver, Martin Byford, eager to get into the car and start racing.

This weekend will mark Martin’s first race in the British Touring Car Championship as he takes over from team boss, Shaun Hollamby, who stood in for the late departure of Tom Onslow-Cole. Byford will be graduating from the Renault Clio Cup where he enjoyed championship winning success in the past.

“I can’t wait to get started and I’m watching the clock ticking down to the weekend,” he said. “I got on well with both the car and the team during the test at Brands Hatch and having tried a few things, we know what we need to do to get the VW more suited to my driving style. Of course, I know I have a bit to learn, but I’m just excited about the prospect of racing in the BTCC having spent the best part of ten years thinking and dreaming about it.”

“Snetterton is the perfect circuit on which to make my debut as it’s my home track and there will be a lot of family, friends, work colleagues and sponsors coming along to cheer me on.” He went on to say, “On one hand, the Golf is just another race car, but on the other, this is British Touring Cars and I’m pumped up about being part of it.”

Team Boss, Shaun Hollamby, was pleased following the recent test which saw Martin Byford take to the track in the VW Golf for the first time following the announcement that he will drive for the team for the rest of the season.

“We’ve not taken Martin on board thinking he is a driver who will need to time to get up to speed and I think he is capable of running with anyone on the BTCC grid,” he said. “He just hasn’t had the chance in the past and now, thanks to the support of Tesco Momentum 99 and Milltek Sport, we’ve been able to give him that chance. We’ve shown this season that the Golf is a package that can run in the top ten and Martin is a driver who is more than capable of coming away from the weekend having scored points on his debut.”

Photo Credit: Kevin Oakley

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.