New Malden racer Tom Onslow-Cole reckons being out of the British Touring Car Championship title race makes him a loaded gun on the grid.

The 24-year-old, who has only nine Championship points to his name this term, makes his second appearance in the Team Aon Ford Focus at Snetterton this weekend, since returning to the outfit in June.

The former Brooklands College student, who started the season in a VW Golf at AmD Milltek, reckons being back behind the wheel at Team Aon is like coming home, having taken the car close to last year’s driver’s championship title.

And he believes the re-conciliation could spell trouble for the rest.

“We just want to win races. Because I don’t have to think about the championship, I can just race,” he said.

“I can go for a gap and not worry too much about the consequences.”

And he believes his experience at the back of the grid in the opening weeks of the season will stand him in good stead too.

“The Golf had never been in the top 15, so to finish a race in sixth was a major achievement,” he added.

“The switch couldn’t have come at a better time, because I was running out of sponsorship and Team Aon were offering a free drive.

“I’ve always kept in touch with the team and it feels like I’ve come home.”