FORMER Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 champion Ben Norton is revved up for a return to racing this year, after missing out on the majority of last season.

The Bratton racer, who won the local championship in 2009 and 2012, only competed in one race last year due to other commitments but is hoping to contest as many of the eight rounds as possible this season – starting with the Howards Day event on Easter Monday.

The event marks the launch of Castle Combe’s 2016 season and the 37-year-old will make a return to racing with the Wiltshire College entry, who will also run a second car for Steve Billett.

“It was a combination of money, work commitments and just the way the calendar fell last year,” said Norton.

“I didn’t want to commit and not do it properly because it’s not fair to the college.

“It’s up in the air at the moment whether I do the whole season, I need to have a good sit down with the guys.

“But we’re entered for the first race and I’m really looking forward to getting back.”

Norton will be racing in the Spectrum which he guided to both his championships, but is unsure where he will place in the pecking order in the first round.

“It’s always nice to go back into a car you’re used to, it’s like putting on an old pair of slippers,” added Norton. “I would like to be at the front, whether I will be I don’t know.

“Looking at the entry list there are a lot of quick drivers in good cars so I’m being realistic.”

Elsewhere, the Saloon Car Championship is full with local drivers as Bristol’s Mark Wyatt defends his outright title with his Astra.

Wyatt runs in the B class for cars under 2.5 litres, which means smaller turbo charged cars like the Mitsubishi Colt of Calne’s Simon Norris join him in battle.

Likely to be right out front are two opponents who fought tooth and nail last year. Calne’s Tony Hutchings, in his Audi TT, will be fending off Combe’s most successful driver, Southampton’s Gary Prebble in his Seat Leon.

Seend’s Julian Ellison returns to do battle with Keynsham’s John Barnard for Astra VXR Turbo honours.

Corsham’s Will Di Claudio, who returns to the fray in class C with a new Peugeot 106 Gti, could contest the outright title.

With three under his belt already and an even quicker car, only class D’s Russell Poynter-Brown, from Compton Martin, has as good a chance at maximum points at each round.

Monday’s action starts at 8.30am, with racing getting under way from 12.40pm Admission prices are £15 for adults and £10 for seniors. Accompanied U17s are admitted free.