TEAM-MATES Harry Vaulkhard and Alan Taylor are aiming to become local heroes when they compete in the latest round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Croft Circuit this weekend.

This will be the first time that Vaulkhard, from Newcastle, and Taylor, from Whitley Bay, will have raced in front of a North- East crowd at the track near Darlington, as drivers in Britain's biggest motor racing championship.

Both compete for the Boldonbased Robertshaw Racing team and are hoping for their best results in their first season of BTCC competition.

Vaulkhard, 22, will arrive at Croft in high spirits. Driving his Chevrolet Lacetti, he scored his first BTCC point in the most recent round at Thruxton nine days ago.

"This will be the biggest day of both our racing careers," said Vaulkhard, winner of last year's one-make SEAT Cupra R series.

"My first racing experience was at Croft, when I was 17, and now here I am, about to race there in the BTCC.

"It is the pinnacle of British motor racing and one of the most-followed championships in the world. It is going to be an incredible buzz.

"But we want people from the region to come and be a part of it as well. The BTCC travels right around the UK and this is the North-East's opportunity to come and see just why it is so spectacular."

Vaulkhard and Taylor will be sharing the starting grid with household names such as North- East-born driver Jason Plato, Matt Neal and Fabrizio Giovanardi during the three BTCC races at Croft tomorrow. Action from other supporting categories means the crowds are in for ten races in total on the day.

Self-made businessman and proprietor of the award-winning Big Mussel seafood restaurants in Newcastle, Taylor said racing in the BTCC in front of his home crowd will be a dream come true.

Taylor, who races a Honda Integra, said: "I'm living the dream.

I've come into racing quite late and have got myself into the fortunate position of being able to race in the BTCC against drivers who before I only ever used to watch on TV.

"My lap times and results are improving all the time and I'm now mixing it with the midfield bunch which, out of 24 drivers, is quite a feat - nobody in the BTCC is a slouch and the drivers at the front are among the very best in the world.

"It would be doubly special if I could break into that hallowed top ten at Croft.

"Sunday is going to be something else. It's a big week for us, with media events and public appearances, but Sunday is when it counts most."

Giovanardi, meanwhile, believes an impressive qualification at Croft today will be doubly important as the twisty nature of the circuit makes overtaking more difficult than at most other tracks.

Giovanardi arrives leading the championship by 18 points.

But leading also means his Vauxhall Vectra VXR will carry maximum success ballast - an extra 45kgs in weight - during qualifying, putting him at a possible disadvantage.

The reigning BTCC Champion said: "I claimed one win (at Croft) last year and I'm confident I can do the same again this year."

Team-mate Matt Neal is fourth in the standings and said: "We are nearly halfway through the season and we've been very consistent."