Swedish racer Dennis Strandberg will graduate to the British Touring Car Championship this weekend, taking the seat at Maximum Motorsport vacated by the MG-bound Josh Cook.
Cook left the team earlier this week to return to MG, after Dan Lloyd left the Triple Eight-run team to move to TCR, giving 23-year-old Strandberg his break in the BTCC.
Strandberg has sampled BTCC machinery in the past, having taken part in the Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton last year with the team.
On British soil the Swede has raced in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge for two years, before joining forces with Maximum Motorsport for the start of 2016 to compete in the Volkswagen Cup.
So far this season Strandberg has been competing in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship at the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR car, where is seventh overall in the drivers’ championship standings.
“I’ve watched the championship for years, so I know how competitive the field is,” said Strandberg, who only flew from Sweden to the UK on Friday. “I think results this weekend will be hard to predict but I’m wanting to preform at my best with the preparation I’ve had for this opportunity.
“I’ve tested the car last season, but I understand its a different machine after the upgrades it had over the winter, I’ve never raced at Croft, but I’m looking forward to the challenge, and look forward to taking to the grid with some very well respected drivers.
“I really appreciate this opportunity from Maximum Motorsport, and Stewart Lines.”
Team Principal Lines is looking forward to seeing how the young Swede fares at the wheel of the outfit’s Ford Focus NGTC car.
“I’m elated to have Dennis in the Focus again, we know he is a very capable drive and should get to grips with the new equipment on the Focus quickly.
“I’m happy that we’ve been able to give new young talent an opportunity to showcase his ability on one of the most competitive grids in Motorsport, and I look forward to seeing what he is capable of.”
At present, Strandberg’s deal in the BTCC is only for the Croft races.