Ferrier lands Astra ride for 2001.

British youngster Tom Ferrier will drive a Triple Eight-prepared Vauxhall Astra Coupe in this year's British Touring Car Championship, it was announced yesterday [Thursday].

At 19, Ferrier is the youngest recruit to the top-flight BTC Touring category, and the former multiple kart and FRenault Star cup champion will use an identical Astra Coupe to those of the official Vauxhall Motorsport team of Yvan Muller and Jason Plato throughout the 26-race campaign which makes up this year's premier racing series.

Ferrier became the youngest ever BTCC driver when he made his debut last season beating, at the age of 18 years and 287 days, the previous record of now-established star James Thompson.

"I'm really excited about my association with Vauxhall this year," Ferrier smiled, "It means a lot to me as a young driver and the experience will give me some great opportunities to learn from the experts like Yvan and Jason, and from the engineers at Triple Eight.

"This will be a learning year for me, but I intend to improve quickly and expect to be giving some meaningful support to the other Vauxhall Astra drivers by mid-season."

This year's BTCC season kicks off on Easter Monday [6 April] at Brands Hatch in Kent.