Two podium finishes for Tom Onslow-Cole in two 24H Series outings has him plotting a new course in motorsport.
 

The 26-year-old announced earlier this month he would not be competing in this year’s British Touring Car Championship after agreeing a deal in January to drive for Milltek Sport-backed KPM Racing.
 

It brought to an end an eight-year association with the UK’s leading domestic motorsport series – since making his debut in 2007 – as he targets a future in GT sportscar and endurance racing.
 

The former Brooklands College student had experienced life behind the wheel of an Aston Martin GT machine last summer, while also racing in the BTCC with Team Hard and Motorbase-backed Airwaves Racing.
 

And, while he has not ruled out a return to the series, Onslow-Cole, right, very much sees his future in sportscars – for now.

“As a professional racing driver it became increasingly difficult to get the sponsorship together to race in the BTCC,” he said.
 

“There are very few manufacturer teams involved, so the only way you can race is if you find the money yourself.

“It was a difficult decision to leave having been involved in the BTCC for so long, but sportscars offer a much better opportunity for career progression.
 

“The 24H series has been great so far and on the basis of that I hope to announce a much more substantial GT and sportscar deal with Milltek in the next week or so.”
 

Onslow-Cole helped KPM Racing, running a Volkswagen Golf Mk6 TDI, finish  second  in the D1 class – diesel touring cars up to 2000cc – at the Dubai 24 Hour race in their first outing in the series in January.
 

And, at the weekend, the Buckinghamshire-based team dominated the  inaugural Dunlop 12H Italy-Mugello to secure a class victory at only the second time of asking – finishing an impressive 12 laps ahead of their nearest rivals.
 

Onslow-Cole set the fastest  lap to earn pole position in last Friday morning’s qualifying, before racing four hours of the 12-hour race to help the four-driver team take the chequered flag on Saturday.
 

“You come to these events with a master plan, and other than for a few tweaks all went to plan for us,” he added.
 

“I’m obviously delighted  we got the class win, but I think what’s even more impressive is we came 12th overall in only our second endurance event.
 

“It has certainly confirmed the sportscar bug for me too.”