NORTH Hampshire British Touring Car Championship stars Rob Collard and Nick Foster will once again race for the West Surrey Racing team this year.

The three-man team will be completed by Colin Turkington who won the championship with the team in 2009.

This year WSR will be racing the smaller BMW 125is which will also be built to the NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) specifications, which means that the team will be on a level playing field with the rest of the cars on the grid.

NGTC cars are cheaper to build as well as run, hence the increase in the number of cards on the grid.

So Collard and Foster will be racing in a brand new car and cannot wait for testing in March, ahead of the first race weekend later the same month.

Hook’s Collard is excited about the new season and is looking to build on an excellent 2012.

The 44-year-old enjoyed three race wins, with success in the opener at Brands Hatch followed by a double winning weekend at Knockhill.

This helped Collard to his best ever finish of fifth in the drivers’ championship and he will be looking to do even better this time around.

Collard said: “I am very pleased to be back with the e-bay motors team and I am looking to do even better than last year.

“WSR have a good track record of building some great cars and this season’s will be the same and, being a NGTC spec, that is going to help as well.”

He added: “We may struggle in the first couple of meetings, but I think after that we will be a force.”

Collard is looking forward to being reunited with Colin Turkington again and said: “I have been Colin’s team-mate before and he has a lot of experience and is a great addition to the team and makes us really strong.”

Before climbing into his new BTCC car this weekend Collard will be supporting his youngest son, Jordan, who has moved up to the KF3 level and, weather permitting, will have his first outing this weekend in Wigan.

Meanwhile Odiham’s Nick Foster is also delighted to be back for WSR for a third year after a mixed 2012 saw him move up the standings to 11th from 14th in his rookie year.

However, he failed to make the podium as he did in 2011 with his best finish being fourth in Silverstone.

Foster said: “I really believe we have a great package this season and I am very positive about everything and in Rob and Colin I have two very good team-mates. We will be sharing all the data so by default that has to help me.

“Last year was not the best for me and I really want to get into the top 10 drivers, but with the big grids that is not going to be easy.

“I feel I have leant a lot from the last two years and now is time to put it into practice.”

The 47-year-old added: “I think it is going to be a close championship again which will be good for the fans and drivers and I can’t wait to drive the new car.”

Once again this season the BTCC will come to north Hampshire when Thruxton hosts round three of the championship on Sunday May 5.