Mark Blundell keen to enjoy BTCC debut

Mark Blundell says he is focused on enjoying himself when he makes his debut in the BTCC this weekend at Brands Hatch.

The Le Mans 24 Hours winner joins the grid this season with the Trade Price Cars Racing team and heads into the opening rounds of the campaign having enjoyed a solid outing in the season launch test last week.

There, the 52-year-old lapped within a second of the pace at the wheel of his Audi S3 despite only limited track time in the car as he makes his return to full-season competition.

Keen to not get carried away, Blundell admitted that the weekend ahead would all be about continuing to learn as much as possible about the front-wheel drive car as he works to get himself fully up to speed.

“Although it would have been nice to have a bit more dry running ahead of the season opener, the team has done a fantastic job to get us out testing and I’ve been learning every time I’ve gone out on track,” he said.

“Whilst I have a lot of experience of racing at the highest level, the Audi is totally different to anything I’ve driven before. I’ve been used to racing with more power, less weight and a lot more downforce so it requires a different approach. It’s like a golfer who has played for 30 years and then has to change their swing; it needs a bit of time.

“Being completely honest, I know there is more to come from me but that is down to time in the car. Do I expect to go out at Brands Hatch this weekend and fight with the big boys? No, because that isn’t realistic. But I do think we can get involved in the pack, and I just want to get stuck in and enjoy myself.

“It’s a long season and this is only the first event so I have to use it to keep learning as much as I can. There are a lot of elements that are going to be new to me, like the three races in a day and the challenges that come from managing the tyres on a front wheel drive car, but I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait for the weekend to get underway.”