Forster, which has scored numerous successes in the British Mini Challenge, is planning to run a pair of BMW 320si in the 2010 BTCC. They will be driven by former Mini champions Martin Depper and Arthur Forster.

Depper said: "The BTCC is the pinnacle of UK motorsport. Both Arthur and I fully appreciate this first season will be a steep learning curve that will put us both to the test, but we are look forward to competing in the BTCC in 2010."

Forster has already secured funding for one car, and is currently working on sponsorship for the second.

The team pushed on with another 2 days testing last week at Oulton Park. The ex-Matt Jackson BMW 320si has been intensively worked on since spilling off the track at Brands Hatch a couple of weeks ago, an experience the team say has made them less precious about the car and more confident to take their testing programme to the next level.

Keen to try out the revised set-up in the BMW 320si Arthur Forster was first to hit the track and made great progress understanding what was required for the Cheshire circuit. Intermittent rain throughout the day gave Arthur some valuable wet weather practice, and responding well to each session he achieved increasingly quicker times, peaking with his best performance at the end of the day.

The second day saw Martin Depper take the wheel and although the rain kept away, the track was still wet and greasy. Consequently, the initial sessions were behind Arthur's pace, as Martin's confidence in the car and conditions grew the lap times started to fall, and by lunch time he was making good in roads to catching Arthur’s times of the previous day.

After lunch things were beginning to dry off but various corners of the Oulton track were still damp. Both drivers are relishing the challenge of the transition from the front drive Mini's to the rear drive BMW, but the slippery conditions and the increased power of the BMW saw the test end spectacularly for Martin.

"I went a little wide and ran over a the curb white line. The back end of the BMW came around fast and the spun the car into the tyre wall, finally throwing me in to a roll. Test day over and I was left with somewhat of a bruised ego!" he said

Despite this, the team achieved much over the 2 days with both drivers more confident, and in tune with the new machine. Arthur finished the test fastest again but Martin is looking forward to mid-January when the car will be fixed and he'll be able to pick up where he left it, hopefully without any more excursions off track.

Forster Motorsport wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a great new year . . .
Heres to BTCC 2010