MONMOUTH businessman Lindsay Ward is relishing the prospect of racing at the famous Oulton Park circuit this weekend.

The company director is in his first season of saloon car racing but has already beaten all expectations with a series of impressive performances at Castle Combe.

Ward's Monmouth-based team is backed by Julian Hodge Bank and their financial clout has enabled LWR Racing to link up with John Brain of Bob Brain Developments to take on the top teams in the sport.

Ward describes John Brain as his mentor – "he has given me so much useful advice. As a result we are getting better quite quickly," he says.

The Brain Development expertise and Ward's sheer enthusiasm for the sport – he has stacked in over 2,000 miles of practice at Castle Combe – has enabled the team to make huge strides.

The team was only formed after Ward expressed an interest in saloon car racing to a friend connected with the Julian Hodge Bank.

"It was something I had always wanted to do but it was little more than a dream. But winning the support of the bank made it become a reality and work began on the car in September," he said.

Like all race prepared saloon cars, Ward's Lancia must be taxed and insured for use on public roads but though the shell may look familiar that where the familiarity ends.

"John Brain stripped the car back to bare metal. It was incredible to see how it was rebuilt. It has lost half a ton in preparation and is really powerful at over 300 horse power and we hope to improve on that. It accelerates from 0 to 60 in around three seconds and goes around four miles to the gallon," he said.

The Lancia Thema 16v Turbo model is possibly the only one of its type being raced in Europe and is attracting wide interest from motor sports journalists, particularly from Italy.

Ward is delighted with the start his team has made.

"The car has completed every session, both practice and race, flawlessly. It is not possible to take a new car, a new team and a new driver and just win races , especially when racing against the other very good and experienced teams in the Pagid Championship.

"We are taking a thoughtful and progressive attitude towards our racing. On May 1 we not only finished in the top half of the draw in the Pagid Performance Braking Championship but also came fifth in class in the Le Mans AutoItalia competition. The icing on the cake was winning the Interpro Trophy for the best prepared car at the event," he said.

Further improvements are being made to the car and Ward hopes Sunday's race at Oulton Park will further enhance his team's growing reputation.