Youngster Chris Swanwick will contest the final two meetings of the year for Rob Austin Racing, it has been revealed. Swanwick, 17, will get to race the team’s second NGTC-spec Audi A4 at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
Swanwick got a taste of the car today at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire and was within half a second of Austin’s pace. It follows a test session in July at Pembrey when Swanwick was officially announced as joining the team, although at the time not in a racing position.
Speaking to BTCC.net, the championship’s official website, Swanwick said: “It’s still not quite sunk in knowing I’m going to be signing-on as a driver with the likes of Plato, Neal and Jackson but at the same time I think the BTCC needs a few more younger drivers.
“It’s the pinnacle and I hope I can become a bit of a role model and show it is possible to make the jump at a young age and be able to go wheel-to-wheel with some of the established stars.”
Swanwick graduates to the BTCC after contesting the Renault Clio Cup for the first half of this year. He only competed in the first four meetings and scored a best result of seventh on two occasions. Last season Swanwick was a competitor in the Ginetta Junior Championship, finishing 14th overall.