SALISBURY race ace Alan Blen-cowe will be looking to recreate the form that earned him a podium place at Mondello Park over Easter when he heads to Brands Hatch this weekend for rounds three and four of the British Touring Car Champ-ionship.

Despite starting from the back of the grid in Ireland, the Tisbury scaffolder cut through the field to take second place - eventually finishing just a second behind race winner Chris Ryan.

Blencowe, who recently joined the Barwell Motorsport team, said: "It was a great start at Mondello. I hope Brands brings us more good fortune in two races - not just one."

After his success in the opening race, his Honda Civic R suffered irreparable damage at the start of the feature race when he received a hefty whack on the right corner by Jim Edwards in his Varta Honda Accord.

A damaged radiator led to engine failure on lap three. This premature exit denied Blencowe the chance of adding to his championship points which had been boosted by registering the fastest lap in race one.

Friday saw the young driver, now in his second BTCC season, getting better acquainted with his new car during a testing session at his 'home' Thruxton circuit.

"I'm still getting used to the car but it is becoming more familiar now. Testing at Thruxton went well."

Inclement weather at the Hamp-shire venue - the next stop for the BTCC after the Brands Hatch meeting - initially posed a number of problems as Blencowe was put through his paces by team boss Mark Lemmer. But encouraged by his new team, the 25-year-old closed the session in a positive mood.

"By the end of the day I was a lot happier. Luke Hines and Michael Bentwood were on the track in the final session but I was quickest in the afternoon. The team are spot on. Mark and Tom McFarlane (the number one on his car) worked 110-per-cent to help me run quick and it worked.

"The car is in great condition and appears to be going from strength to strength."

Brands Hatch has previously proved a happy hunting ground for Blencowe.

"I won the Fiesta Winter Series there two years ago, so a repeat performance would be nice."

However, judging by his Mondello Park experience, the Salisbury star is taking nothing for granted. "Anything could happen," he says with a smile, and you just know when Blencowe's about, it most probably will.