DARTFORD drag racer Steve Hall begins his second season in the MSA British drag racing championship this weekend with high hopes.

Like most of his peers in the pro-modified class, Hall endured a tricky first year, blighted by engine damage and new-car teething problems.

But now the fearsomely powerful Corvette has a fresh motor on board.

Hall and his tuner Steve Large will have 2011’s MSA championship-winning engine to power the ‘Vette.

Champion Graham Ellis has switched to a turbocharged car for his title defence and has sold the supercharged V8 with which he won the crown to the Kent team.

Pro-modified is the designated class for the Motor Sports Association’s national drag racing series and the 2012 season begins at Santa Pod Raceway’s Auto Trader Easter Thunderball event between Friday and Monday.

Last season Hall overcame his early difficulties to set promising baseline performance marks of 7.399s at 195.56mph over the standing-start quarter-mile while qualifying for eliminations at the season’s last race.

With the new engine installed, he will expect improved performances to offer a strong challenge to Easter’s opponents from Britain and France.

Santa Pod Raceway is located near Wellingborough, Northants. The postcode is NN29 7XA for Sat Nav users.

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