NORTH-East Touring Car driver Harry Vaulkhard is aiming to build on his strong start to the new season at Thruxton this weekend.

Twenty-three year-old Vaulkhard, from Newcastle, finished in the top ten in two of the three races of the season-opening round at Brands Hatch, in what was the debut for his Tempus Sport team.

The Chevrolet Lacetti driver said: "Thruxton is one of my favourite circuits, and apart from testing earlier this year, Ive had some very good experiences there. Perhaps most notably I won the 2007 British Seat Cupra R championship at Thruxton in the final round of the season, and it was on my birthday!

"It was also the first place I led a race. There's some fantastically fast corners round the back of the track, some technical areas at the start and end of the lap, all coupled with a venue that seems quite old-fashioned in many respects.

"All in all, Thruxton is one of my preferred hunting grounds and Im excited to see what we can do there with Tempus."

Qualifying takes place on Saturday, with three races on Sunday.