Banham's Matthew Stubington is aiming to better his third place in the 2016 Classic Stock Hatch Championship after recording a podium place in the opening round at Donington Park as he plots his fifth season in the series.

'Current champion Matt Rozier is a tough competitor and is the one to beat if I want the title,' admitted the local racer.

'However, I proved to myself that I can beat him as I showed at Cadwell Park last year when I won both races.'

The Norfolk racer will be heading to his local circuit next weekend.

'It would be nice to have a good result on my home track as I ended last season there by spinning,' he added.

Last year Rozier's points total was unbeatable when the series rolled into Snetterton, but Lee Scott's second place was vulnerable if the local racer was on top form – but his second race error blunted his challenge.

Stubington and his self-prepared Peugeot 205GTi headed to Snetterton last September coming off a double victory at Cadwell Park where in the first race he led every lap, but never by more than a car's length or two, and repeated that in race two.

Having now got the taste for victory, Stubington has been plotting an even better season in 2017.

'My aim is to finish on the podium as many times as possible and score good points without collecting too much success ballast.'

Josh Files, the newly-crowned TCR Middle East Champion, has recently confirmed he will be defending his TCR German title, which the Poringland saloon car racer won last year.

'I have no doubt this year will be a completely different and much tougher challenge,' said Files. 'I'm happy to be returning in my Honda with Target as we now have a year of experience together and more experience with the car.

'Last year felt amazing to become the inaugural TCR German champion. It was hard at the start but when we got the Honda we knew we had a real shot at the title. I am seriously not underestimating the new fights and difficulties that the 2017 season is going to bring, it will definitely be hard, but I love a challenge.'