SALISBURY race ace Alan Blencowe is making a long-awaited return to the track, after clinching a deal for the 2008 season.

The driver was sitting in second place in the Seat Cupra Championship when lack of funding forced him to withdraw from the competition midway through last season.

He is now hoping to get off to a flying start in the 2008 Britcar Production S1 Championship after penning a contract with Synchro Motorsport to race a 2007 Honda Civic Type-R.

The former British Touring Car Championship race winner said: "I'm really looking forward to working with Synchro and racing a Honda Civic again.

"I raced against Synchro's Honda when I was driving for Barwell Motorsport in 2003 and finished second in the drivers' championship, so I know they put a good car together."

The car that Alan will be driving is still under development, with three weeks left for pre-season testing before the championship gets under way at Silverstone.

Alan is at the Northamptonshire track today for the official unveiling of the car. The media event is also his new team's first opportunity to size up the opposition.

Synchro Motorsport is based at the main UK Honda headquarters in Swindon.

Alan said: "The team has a strong working knowledge of the car, and their development really is impressive."