AN exciting new sponsorship deal has given Silver End racing driver Toby Bearne the chance to take a significant step up in his motorsport career this year.

Bearne, who finished third in his rookie season in the Maximumgroup.net VAG Trophy, will be racing in the Britcar Championship after securing sponsorship from Witham-based company TEXO Scaffolding & Construction.

He will be driving for Team-HARD - the same team he competed with last year - in a Ginetta GT55 in the Britcar Championship, which features two-hour endurance races at major UK race circuits, including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Snetterton.

It represents a big step up to anything Bearne has raced so far in his career and has been made possible by the deal from TEXO owner Robert Hayward.

Bearne is the latest in a line of local sports people and clubs helped by sponsorship from Hayward, who is a joint backer for boxer Anthony Joshua's forthcoming world heavyweight title fight at the end of April.

And Bearne is thankful to have the sponsorship in place to compete at the higher level.

"Having recently completed two successful test days in this new Ginetta GT55, I am confident I have the pace to compete at the sharp end," he said.

"Thank you to my Team-HARD boss Tony Gilham for the opportunity to race this car and of course Robert, for TEXO's sponsorship, belief and trust without whom this would not have been possible.

"And not forgetting Ronnie, my Dad, for tirelessly working to make this happen."

The Britcar Championship is due to start on April 9 at Silverstone.

If any company would like to join Bearne with further sponsorship, then email Ronnie at bearnetenpin@aol.com