DAN Cammish is looking forward to his Croft touring car debut as high octane racing arrives in the North-East.

Cammish, from Leeds, is in his debut season with Honda factory team, Halfords Yuasa Racing. They are among the teams to beat as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship makes its annual visit to the the track, near Darlington.

Cammish is the best-placed of four Yorkshire drivers in the championship standings approaching the midway stage of the season, having taken a brace of podium finishes from the opening 12 races.

He replaced the wily Gordon Sheddon at the team this season and said while there is pressure, he is confident in his own ability.

“I wouldn’t be here if the team didn’t think I was the right guy for the job,” said the former Porsche Carrera driver.

“There’s lot of guys out there that could have taken this spot, but here I am. That gives me a lot of confidence, the team is fully behind me.

The Northern Echo:

Touring Car drivers took time out to visit Butterwick House Children’s Hospice on Friday. They are Daniel Lloyd, Stephen Jelley, Dan Cammish, Chris Smiley and Ollie Jackson

“They don’t expect me to be an overnight success, no one is in touring cars, I have got the speed but there is so much more to learn.

“Here we are at Croft, a circuit I have done very well at in the past, but I have never been here in a touring car, never been here in a front wheel drive car, so I have got two practice sessions tomorrow to become a front wheel drive expert.

“It’s a steep learning curve, I have already had two podiums, and I am hungry for more success.”

Croft first hosted the BTCC – then known as the British Saloon Car Championship – in 1968, making this weekend’s event the 50th anniversary of the circuit’s relationship with the touring cars series.

Visit www.thenorthernecho.co.uk on Sunday for pictures, video and race reports.