DARLINGTON Autotester Paul Swift launched his campaign on the British Autotest Championship last weekend with a win.

Curborough motorsport complex near Litchfield was the venue for the opening round of the championship, where 40 competitors from all over the British Isles battled it out for top honours.

Swift conceded two early penalties and was lying second overall at the halfway point behind the Subaru powered buggy of Chris Atkinson but with a string of 11 fastest times in his Carpet Time sponsored Mini Special Swift took the win by a massive 29.6 Seconds.

"I couldn't have wished for a better start to the season," he said.

This weekend, with support from local sponsors Smart IFA and Smith & Allan Oils, the 24-year-old travels to the Republic of Ireland to represent England in the TDC Inter Nations Cup.

With England winning the Ken Wharton international trophy back in October they will be looking to bring home some silverware