SWANLEY'S premier driver had the worst possible start to his VW Cup season after a heavy smash ruled him out of both round one races.

Cup rookie Tony Gilham had turned heads in the pit lane with impressive qualifying and testing drives, at one point he was the fastest on the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire.

However, after claiming fourth spot on the grid and then holding second place for the opening four laps, things started to go wrong.

The 26-year-old said: "Friday was the first official testing day and we were second quickest but we were expecting to be on pole for the first race.

"Then the weather changed and we took advice from Hankook tyres and changed the tyres around."

He said: "It affected the car's set up, taking two seconds off our best, but we still took fourth on the grid.

"It was raining during the first race and loads of cars were spinning off.

"I span but unfortunately Martyn Culley in a Vento VR6 smashed into me from behind and it was a heavy impact, busting the radiator."

Hasty repairs by Gilham's Regal Autosport mechanics got Tony on the grid for race two, but recurring mechanical problems left him with no choice but to retire to the pits after three laps.

Gilham's GIAC-backed Beetle RSi is in the body shop and should be out testing in preparation for round two at Donington Park on May 20 and May 21.

Despite the disastrous weekend, which included breaking-down on the journey home, Gilham is upbeat.

The reigning MR2 champion said: "I'm happy with our times. If I was off the pace in testing I'd have been worried.

"But we've got everyone talking as we're new to the cup and our times have put the fear into them."

He added: "We were on old tyres initially to save cash and we were on the pace.

"We got talking to teams who said we were pretty much on the pace. I said we were going onto slicks in the afternoon and they could not believe we'd gone so fast on old tyres.

"From then on, they were timing me and watching my performance."

After Donington, the championship visits Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Thruxton.

Gilham said: "I still think we can challenge for the cup. There are 54 points available each weekend and everyone will have ups and downs during the season, hopefully we've got our downs out the way."

The VW Cup is a giant step up for Gilham and the attention it brings is new to him.

He said: "There loads of media interest and you're always being watched.

"If you crashed in the MR2 Championship you were left to get on with it, here you have people taking pictures."

He added: "It's a big challenge but we're doing our best and learning all the time."