SALOON car racer Alex Dew is mounting a full rebuild of his race car ready for a full-scale assault on the 750 Motor Club Hot Hatch series.

Dew, 21, of Bampton, started racing saloon cars four years ago and competed in the 750 Motor Club series this year, notching up a series of top placings.

Dew, who is in third year at Portsmouth University studying sport and exercise science, said: "The 2006 season started with a self-prepared Ford Fiesta XR2, with the support of Kernahans of Witney, for a real attack on the Class B Championship.

"Progress in 2006 was strong and after 12 rounds lying fourth in class and four of the fastest rounds remaining, a major engine blow meant I transferred to a semi-prepared Citron Saxo VTR, now a Class A car which I had originally purchased to prepare for the 2007 series.

"This meant losing the Class B Championship points, but I could attack the overall championship position. Although little was known about the car, it made a big impact on the championship, rattling even the championship leader by taking third position at Oulton Park, only one second behind him after only the second outing in the car.

"The season ended on a real high with sixth position overall to consistently high results, although we did drop to eighth position due to the dropped scores ruling."

He added: "Thanks are due to Ralph and Darren at Pitstop Brize Norton for Rolling Road tuning and general advice and the support from Kernahans."

The 750 Motor Club Hot Hatch series is the largest and most competitive series in the UK, with an annual entry of more than 120 championship competitors and grid sizes at every meeting of between 35 and 40, at all the major circuits around the UK.