Jelley wants Touring Car progress

Jelley will race at Leicestershire's Donington Park on 17 May

Leicestershire driver Stephen Jelley is determined to improve as he enters his second season in the British Touring Car Championship.

Brands Hatch stages the first round of races on Sunday, 5 April.

Jelley told BBC Radio Leicester: "It was a massive learning curve last year, especially as I'd just come fresh out of single seaters."

Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi is looking to win his third successive BTCC title, with 21 drivers lining up on the grid.

Jelley believes that number is a credit to the organisers, considering the current credit crunch.

"All the teams have had to work extra hard and some very late deals were done. As a grid we've only lost a couple of cars so fair play to them really," he added.

Team RAC have been testing at the Rockingham circuit recently and Jelley's team-mate Colin Turkington is amongst a number of drivers with a host of experience in BTCC.

Matt Neal, Tom Chiltern and Gordon Sheddon are another three names to watch out for in a season that includes rounds at Leicestershire's Donington Park.