Tom Boardman and the Special Tuning Racing team completed the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on a high after Tom secured his third podium finish of the season in the final race at Silverstone which left him 8th in the Independents Drivers Championship after a season riddled with bad luck and misfortune.

Despite that the Lancastrian-based driver is confident about the team and the improvements that they’ve made over the season and are already evaluating the potential pathways for the 2012 season.

“We’ve got a good package here at Special Tuning Racing with the team and the car,” said Tom. “Dave’s shown this season that he’s got pace so things are heading in the right direction. It’s nice to have a team-mate like Dave so that we can both build and become a great partnership.”

The 2011 British Touring Car Championship was the first year which allowed the full-NGTC specification machines into the series with a total of six NGTC cars making it out onto the grid for the final round of the season. A lot of teams have already confirmed that they will be making an NGTC entry into the series next year but with the regulations not coming into full force until 2013, Tom Boardman doesn’t think that the switch is essential.

“Everyones going to the new NGTC [Next Generation Touring Car] regulations for next year but after the performance at Silverstone ‘Why do we need to do that?” Tom went on to add, “We might as well stick with the turbo SEAT Leon because we proved that we can get the results. Our car is still competitive. We’ve learned a lot about the car and especially the engine with it being the first year with a turbo. We’re going to be stronger next year.”

Tom’s also looking at other options which are open to him. Back in 2009 Tom contested the World Touring Car Championship and he’s not written that option just yet.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do at all next year. It’s common knowledge that I’ve been thinking about going to the World Touring Cars next year. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Photo Credit: Mick O’Rourke

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.