NEW York City chairman John Batchelor will turn his attention from pitch to pits on Monday as the new British Touring Car Championship gets off the grid at Brands Hatch.

After months of top-level meetings, late nights and long hours trying to tie up the deal to take over the football club, Batchelor admits he is itching to get behind the wheel.

And while the 43-year-old has revealed a burning ambition to propel the Minstermen to success, his desire for success on the track burns just as bright.

Batchelor, who competes in the production class - which features cars closer to road going models - of the BTCC, is confident of shifting through the gears and achieving his first podium finish in the championships sooner rather than later.

And although his build-up to Monday's opening two rounds have gone less than smoothly, Batchelor's team, now called York City Racing following his take over of the Minstermen, have good reason to feel confident.

Aside from a name change, Batchelor's driving ambition has been bolstered by new cars, new sponsorship and a new driver.

The Honda Integras of last season have gone, replaced by Honda Accords, while Jim Edwards Junior has joined the City Racing team.

Last week, Batchelor was able to announce a seven-figure, three-year sponsorship deal backing both the football club and the racing team had been signed with York-based builders Persimmon Homes.

Batchelor, who finished 22nd out of 26 drivers last year, declared: "This season we want some podium finishes. It was our debut last year and we also had the smallest engines on the grid.

"The Honda Accords have 2litre engines instead of the 1800s of the Integras and we have just had them rebuilt and re-tuned and they are quick.

"I won a championship (the BRSCC Super Road Saloons Championship) in 1999 but I've not now won a race since then and that's what I'd like to do."

The take-over of the football club has meant time to practice ahead of Monday's opening race has been at a premium for Batchelor.

To make matters worse, the Accord completed just seven laps at launch day earlier this month before it was forced out due to technical problems.

At the same-time, Batchelor has been trying to get to grips with the car's unorthodox left-hand drive as quickly as possible.

It means Monday's meet will see the team directing most of their efforts on new recruit Edwards.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, March 30, 2002