Former BTCC Champion and GT racer Tim Harvey, of Woodstock, has high hopes for 2006 as he prepares for the opening rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Harvey had a mixed 2005 campaign and heads up a strong squad at Motorbase Performance, who are based not far from Brands Hatch in Wrotham, near Sevenoaks.

The biggest field in the history of the Carrera Cup GB will see 21 of the stunning new Type 997' 911 GT3 Cup cars going into battle in a pair of 34-lap encounters, supporting the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

After six weeks of testing and fine-tuning the new cars, the teams' and drivers' attention is focused on the first two rounds of the new season. Qualifying and the opening race will be held on Saturday, with the second race on Sunday in front of a big BTCC crowd as the British racing season gets off to a flying start.

The new Type 997' 911 GT3 Cup racer that makes its UK debut this year has drawn universal praise from the drivers, with more power, a sequential gearbox and enhanced aerodynamics - so Carrera Cup lap records are set to tumble.

Heading the entry and carrying number 1' on his car will be defending champion Damien Faulkner (Co Donegal). The Irish ace drives for Team Parker with SAS, based in Leicester, and is determined to take back-to-back titles but knows he faces an incredibly strong field with a clutch of very serious title contenders.

Fastest of all during the pre-season test day at Silverstone the only time to date all the leading cars have tested at the same time was Mark Cole (Newbury) for Team RPM, from Worcestershire. That was a big boost to the team and Cole will be fighting hard to continue his pace-setting form at Brands.