A TYRE fitter is in pole position to showcase his skills after being selected to change wheels for British Touring Car Championship drivers at Croft Circuit, near Darlington, this weekend.

Jordon Smith, a tyre technician from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, will work trackside at the circuit, showing off his speedy skills to the UK's top motor-racing stars, including the likes of Matt Neal and Jason Plato.

The 19-year-old, who works for car repair company HiQ, is joining the Dunlop Motorsport team after bosses recognised his abilities.

The company, which sponsors the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC), can invite one fast fitter to each circuit.

Mr Smith said: "It's a dream come true to be changing tyres for Honda, Vauxhall, Seat, BMW and all the teams in the touring car championship.

"I have seen the motorsport boys in action and I hope I can bring some speed and quality to their work at Croft.

"It is lovely to get this opportunity.

I am a huge fan of the competition, and to be so close and get involved with the action is amazing."

HiQ's regional business manager Reg Stephenson said: "We chose Jordon on merit. He has been exceptional and he deserves the opportunity. We have had great customer feedback about him and he is a credit to HiQ."

The British Touring Car Championship makes its only visit of the year to the North-East this weekend, when Croft plays host to round four of the series.

Up to 15,000 fans are expected to turn out see their heroes do battle, including North-Eastraised Plato and current leader Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Plato, who went to school in Newcastle, is very much the local hero when the series visits the track.

The 2001 champion took his second win of the season at Thruxton, in Hampshire, last time out and will be looking for more of the same in front of his home crowd.

There will also be plenty of cheering for the Robertshaw Racing team, from Boldon, South Tyneside, which fields a Chevrolet Lacetti for Newcastle's Harry Vaulkhard and a Honda Integra for Whitley Bay driver Alan Taylor.

Vaulkhard will go into his home event off the back of his first points-scoring finish in his first season of racing in the championship.

The schedule includes 13 races, the latest three BTCC rounds, plus another ten races from supporting championships, including the SEAT Cupra Championships where local farmer Robert Lawson from Barton, near Darlington, will be looking to hold onto his lead.

Local motor journalist Larry Carter said the weekend promised to be exciting, with fans expected to travel from all over the region for the event.

"This is always a big, big event for the fans in the north. We are expecting people from all the North-East, Yorkshire and Cumbria.

"The circuit never fails to draw a huge British Touring Car Championship race day crowd and this year, with the championship at its most competitive and exciting for a decade, tens of thousands of fans are expected to file through the gates," he said.