EVESHAM driver Rob Austin is eyeing up a first outright Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race win for Swindon's Handy Motorsport.

The 36-year-old aims for a strong start to the second half of the campaign and is confident of continued improvements.

This weekend's Snetterton triple-header in Norfolk begins the run-in to the series finale in October after six weeks since the previous event at Croft.

Toyota Avensis driver Austin only just missed out on his second outright BTCC podium of the season in North Yorkshire.

Throughout the first five race meetings Austin and Handy Motorsport made good progress with consistent scoring to sit eighth in the overall championship and second in the Independents Trophy standings.

The squad took part in the officially-timed Dunlop tyre test at Snetterton a fortnight ago where a variety of set-up work was conducted and vital data gathered ahead of the return.

“We’re hoping the second half of the season will bring more steps forward,” said Austin.

“Some stuff we tried with the car at the Snetterton tyre test didn’t go exactly as we expected but we learnt a lot and definitely made gains.

“Snetterton will suit us better than some of the other tracks we’ve visited recently.

"We had our first podium there last year and that was basically from the back of the grid in the first race, working our way through in race two and then racing to the podium in the last one.

"We should have a strong car this weekend. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Austin added: “We’re still learning. We’ve taken big strides and I’m still getting to grips with the front-wheel drive but we’re fine-tuning and getting better.

“The target is still to win a race or two this season. I think we have the pace to do it. The team deserves one and I think it would be well earned.

“Championship position-wise we’re looking good in the overall standings and the independents but I’m still kicking myself about Brands Hatch at the start of the year.

"I made a silly mistake there which really did cost us points. The plan is not to make any more mistakes for the rest of the season!”