Youngster Daniel Lloyd is set to test a Vauxhall Vectra for Triple Eight Race Engineering next week at the official BTCC test session at Rockingham.
The 18-year old, who is currently racing in the Skip Barber championship in the United States, will test one of the championship winning cars for the first time as he evaluates his options back in the UK.
Lloyd has raced on the BTCC package in the past, having competed in the 2008 Ginetta Junior Championship where he was a front-runner. More recently he has raced tin-tops during the winter of 2009 when he competed in the Winter Renault Clio Cup.
“This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity for me,” Lloyd told btcc.net. “I want to thank (Triple Eight principal) Ian Harrison and my manager Tim Sugden for his help in securing this test deal. Driving a touring car has been my goal since I started racing karts in 2003, so to have the chance to drive a car as competitive as the ex-works Vectra – and with a team as successful as Triple Eight – is incredible.”
Lloyd’s manager Sugden admitted that touring car racing was one of the main categories that the young driver is looking to move into, adding: “Professional motorsport is where we want Daniel to be and we acknowledge a test with a vastly experienced team like Triple Eight is an important step. We’re very much aiming at a future in touring cars and GT racing so this test is a great opportunity for Daniel to gain valuable experience and to have the chance to show what he can do in a top-line car.”
Meanwhile it is unclear whether James Nash will also be present at the test for Triple Eight, despite being rumoured to have the funds for several more BTCC meetings.