Fresh from the delirious celebrations at Snetterton last Sunday following its first ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium finish, Handy Motorsport heads north of the border to Knockhill in Fife next week determined to again be in a position to challenge for silverware.

On the crest of a wave after Rob Austin’s sensational drive in round 18, where the fan-favourite carved his way through from ninth on the grid into a richly deserved third place finish and Independents Trophy victory, the Swindon squad aims to build on that momentum in Scotland.

Knockhill is a circuit 34-year-old Austin has excelled at in the past but the 1.27-mile track, the shortest on the BTCC calendar, is one which favours rear-wheel drive cars as he proved in 2013 and 2014 with double podium results each year at the wheel of an Audi A4.

Tackling the tight and twisty circuit with front-wheel drive for the first time next weekend, 13th/14th August, will present an exciting new challenge for the Toyota Avensis pilot and one the entire Handy Motorsport squad is relishing after the outstanding highs of Snetterton a few days ago.

“We’re all still on cloud nine after last weekend, what an amazing result!”, said team owner Simon Belcher, “We definitely did it the hard way after the problems in qualifying, but we all knew the car was quick – and everyone knows what Rob can do. He did a fantastic job, raced brilliantly, and the podium proved the potential that’s been there all season.

“Knockhill is a completely different challenge to Snetterton, and the rear-wheel drive cars do have an advantage there, but the goal is to build on everything we achieved last weekend. We are up for the challenge, and it’s always a bigger challenge for the front-wheel drive cars, but despite that we will fight as hard as we can for the best results possible – we’re really looking forward to it.”

Handy goes into the seventh event of the BTCC campaign sixth in the Independents Team Trophy standings and inside the top 10 of the overall HiQ Teams Championship. Austin, meanwhile, is fifth in the Independents Trophy for drivers and 15th in the outright BTCC title battle.

Having shown superb pace during winter testing, and starring with a top three performance at the pre-season Media Day test, the team encountered qualifying difficulties on the opening weekend of the season at Brands Hatch but Austin showed his quality with Handy’s best ever race finish of 11th.

Going on to take an improved top eight result at Donington Park, and then an even better seventh place at Thruxton, despite a couple of less fruitful race meetings at Oulton Park and Croft the team really turned a corner at the Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton at the end of June.

Knowing a podium challenge was only a matter of time, hopes of achieving such a result last weekend seemed remote after suspension problems in qualifying resulted in a starting slot of 23rd on the grid for race one. Carving his way into 13th place in the opening contest, Austin went on to finish ninth in race two and then, of course, secured Handy’s maiden BTCC podium in race three.

“I’m still over the moon from Snetterton, everyone worked so hard to put the team on the podium”, said the Pershore racer, “Knockhill is a circuit that’s tailored to rear-wheel drive, so that makes things more difficult for us, but we’re still confident we can go well there in the Toyota. I do love racing at Knockhill, it’s a circuit I’ve excelled at in the past so we’re aiming for a strong weekend.”

Opening practice at the Fife track will get underway at 09.30 next Saturday, 13th August, with session two following at 12.10 ahead of qualifying at 15.40. On Sunday, 14th August, round 19 is scheduled to start at 11.50, round 20 will begin at around 14.15 and round 21 will conclude the weekend’s track action at 17.10. Live coverage will be on ITV4 with streaming HERE

2016 BTCC Drivers Championship Standings:15th Rob Austin, 77pts

2016 Independents Trophy Standings:5th Rob Austin, 178pts

2016 HiQ Teams Championship Standings:10th Handy Motorsport, 80pts

2016 Independents Team Trophy Standings:6th Handy Motorsport, 190pts