NORTH YORKSHIRE racing driver Max Coates is approaching the start line of his 2022 season - and is set to be busier than ever over the course of the rest of the year.

Having starred in the Mini Challenge series last summer, Coates will be once again be contesting one of the most popular series on the British motorsport calendar.

However, as well as fulfilling his Mini Challenge commitments, he has also signed up to race in the Britcar Endurance Championship throughout 2022.

The Scorton ace will contest the series, which gets underway at Silverstone next month, in an Opel Astra TCR run by Dragon Sport by Amigo, alongside team-mate Rhys Lloyd.

The pair's involvement in the Britcar Endurance Championship is part of a new venture for the Wales-based team.

Coates is no stranger to the class, having competed in Britcar in 2019 in a Seat Cupra, when he recorded a number of notable successes.

He will link up with the equally-experienced Lloyd, and the pair are expected to be major challengers for honours this season.

Coates said: “The lure of endurance racing has been with me since the close of the 2019 Britcar season, so when Rhys needed a driving partner, I jumped at the opportunity.

"We have been team-mates before in 24-hour races and I have known the team for ten years, so I feel very at home with everyone and I’m getting to grips with the car.

"The majority of my racing is in a sprint format, so this a wonderful opportunity for me to widen my skill-set and get involved in the endurance side of the sport.

"We’ve got a few things to work on before round one, but have a testing plan in place to ensure we are prepared.”

This year's Britcar Endurance series will feature six rounds of competition, with the opening burst of action taking place at Silverstone on March 12.

Coates will then compete at further rounds at Oulton Park (April 2), Snetterton (May 14), Silverstone (June 18), Donington National (August 20) and Donington Grand Prix (October 22).

Alongside his Britcar deal, Coates remains with the Graves Motorsport Team in the Mini Challenge after finishing in fifth place in the series last season.

Other local drivers who will compete on the Mini Challenge circuit include Northallerton’s Ethan Hammerton and Dom Wheatley from Hartlepool, who won the Mini Trophy last season.

The Mini Challenge will be part of the support set-up for a number of different flagship series this summer, including the British Touring Car Championships. Two Mini Challenge races are planned for the BTCC's visit to Croft Circuit, which is scheduled to take place on the weekend of June 24-26.