MATT FLOWERS believes he can challenge for race wins and podium finishes as he embarks on his second season in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge.
The Banstead racer is set to return to the Championship with Academy Motorsport, having finished ninth in the 2013 season – his debut season at that level.
And now, after agreeing a deal to return to the G40 car, Flowers is keen to build on a strong first season.
"I want to win races and finish on the podium," he said.
"I think it will be tough to win the Championship, but realistically I want to be challenging towards the front and challenging to achieve those goals.
"Most of the guys up the top from last season have moved up a level, and the field is probably split between drivers with experience and new drivers to the Championship."
And Flowers feels that his experience of last season could prove a factor and give him the edge over some of his rivals, including two new team-mates at Academy Motorsport.
"All the tracks are the same and the car is the same, so I do go into it knowing what to expect," he said.
"I felt that my performances in the second half of the season were improving as the year went on, so I may have an advantage on those coming into the Championship for the first time."
But despite learning a lot in his debut season, Flowers could be hindered by a lack of testing, having only recently signed the deal to return with Academy Motorsport.
"That might level it out a bit," he said.
"It's been difficult to get a budget together for the season and, as a result, I have not done much testing, but I am hoping I can build on last year's experience and challenge at the front."
Flowers' best finish was fifth at Oulton Park and Rockingham, and the 26-year-old returns to one of those places, Oulton Park, for the first round this weekend.
And he said he is keen to make his mark at the Cheshire circuit, having been involved in an accident there last season.
"It has been quite a long time since I have been in the car, but I will be as ready as I can be," he said. "There will be a testing day on Friday to get back into it – it is not ideal, but I am itching to get going again."
And Flowers will have to be ready for a busy day on Saturday, with qualification and three races in an intense day of racing.
