Touring Car chance beckons for Horton

The talented saloon car racer from Chandler's Ford has been given the chance to race an Alfa Romeo 156 in the production class.

The car is run by the Andover-based GA Motorsport team who Horton has got to know through his job as a part time race instructor at Thruxton.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm grateful to Gary Ayles of GA Motorsport for making it possible," said Horton, who for several seasons was a front-runner in the National Hot Hatch Championship

"With little time to test the car I have to make the leap from driving a right-hand drive Ford Fiesta with 150 horsepower to a left-hand drive 230 horsepower Alfa!

"Snetterton is a night meeting as well so it adds to the challenge and the excitement. Snetterton is a circuit I know well and I have enjoyed several race wins there in the past," he added.

The GA Motorsport team have already nailed their colours to the mast in the Independents Cup section of the Touring Car Championship in which their number one driver Gavin Pyper is leading the way from Hampshire's Rob Collard.

When he drives out in the Production Championship, Horton will run up against another local hopeful, Alan Blencowe from Salisbury, who is now a regular podium finisher in his Barwell Motorsport Honda Civic Type R.

Horton's chances of staying in the team depend as much on sponsorship as to how well he actually does and he's busily hunting for backing.

"I'm hoping that Snetterton will be the first of several appearances in the car," he says, "but that really depends on being able to come up some sponsorship.

"We want to get local businesses involved and the package we are offering provides investors with the chance to be involved on race day as well as the chance to get some hands-on racing experience.

"There is space on the car with opportunities to get involved from as little as £500."

Anyone interested should contact Paul on 023 8026 5565.