NORTH Yorkshire racing driver Max Coates is to make his Touring Car debut at his home circuit of Croft this weekend.

Support Our Paras Racing today confirmed that Coates, 21, and from Scorton, will drive the team's second race car for the remainder of the 2015 Dunlop British Touring Car Championship.

Coates will partner Zurich-based Derek Palmer in the team's two Infiniti Q50s.

The Mallory Park-based team's race cars are prepared by injured ex-servicemen from the Parachute Regiment, with all team profits being donated to Support Our Paras, the official Regiment charity.

“I'm over the moon to be joining Support Our Paras Racing in the BTCC," Coates said. "The structure of the team is unique and it really is all about supporting the Paras.

“It's an honour to represent the Paras on track. The guys are learning a lot very quickly, but they have teamwork and desire to succeed in abundance.

"I’m under no illusion as to how hard the racing will be. This is the first part of a long-term plan with the team and I am very excited about opportunities both now and in the future.

"Racing in the BTCC will be a dream come true.

“There has been a lot of hard work, from a number of people, behind the scenes over the last five years since I joined the TOCA paddock. Kicking off my BTCC career at Croft, my home circuit, will be something special.”

After competing in karts at national level, Coates graduated to the Ginetta Junior Championship, before stepping up to Ginetta G50 and the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2012.

He racked up five wins in the opening nine rounds which put him in contention for the title.

Unfortunately, budget constraints forced him to withdraw from the running, before returning to win again at Croft. He also contested the final round at Brands Hatch in a Ginetta G55.

In 2013, after an eight-month layoff, Coates returned to compete in one round of the Ginetta GT Supercup, again at Croft. After qualifying fifth, he turned this into three top six finishes, including a podium in the third and final race of the weekend.

Last year, Coates made two 'guest' appearances, one in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, and the other in Ginetta G55. His Porsche outing at Donington saw him finish fifth and sixth, while his Ginetta race at Croft resulted in another top six finish.

Coates' appointment was greeted by Support Our Paras Racing team principal, Derek Palmer Snr.

"I'm delighted to welcome Max to the team," he said. "We know what he's capable of, and he has bags of potential which we're confident we'll be able to nurture and develop.

"It's an exciting appointment for the team, and we're looking forward to working together for the rest of the season, and into 2016."