EVESHAM’S Rob Austin eyes a hat-trick of consistent points scores at Donington Park this weekend.

The DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing driver heads for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season’s second meet fresh from an opening podium at Brands Hatch in the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

While hungry to challenge for race victories quickly, fourth-placed ace Austin is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

The car will have to carry 48kg of success ballast heading into qualifying and the first race.

Austin said: “Donington is a track I’ve always gone well on.

“I’ve won there in pretty much everything I’ve driven and last year we managed to stick the old Toyota on pole position so I’m looking forward to being back there.

“Where normally I would be hoping to repeat last year’s pole position and aim for race wins, I’m very aware we’ll be carrying a substantial lump of lead in a car which we still don’t fully understand.

“I said last time out we are only really scratching the surface when it comes to this car’s potential and that still rings true as we head to Donington.”

Most BTCC competitors went to Thruxton for an official test day but that will have no bearing on a different circuit at Donington.

Austin added: “My expectations are realistic.

“I’m hoping we can get in a solid points-scoring weekend for now and once we have opportunity to start unlocking some potential in the DUO Motorsport with HMS Alfa Romeo we’ll be aiming for wins.”