Having hoped to get on track during the second half of 2008, AFM Racing has revealed that it will keep its focus on the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship despite a solid test with its BMW 120d.

Rick Kerry and Nick Leason both took turns in the BMW during a day of running at the Prodrive test track to evaluate developments made to the car over the course of the year.

While the test yielded positive results, the pair have elected not to make the trip to Brands Hatch for the final rounds of the year as initially planned and will instead spend more time refining the car with a view to making a return to the grid in 2009.

“The test has shown we have progressed so much in our development over the last few months and we are so pleased with the results,” Kerry said. “We never wanted to be at the back of the grid and have just been working hard and get on with it professionally.

“We were very tempted to be out racing this weekend in the BTCC finals and had conversations with Alan Gow, who we thank for his support and would have welcomed us back into the series this weekend.

“Unfortunately we have made the hard decision not to enter just for the last meeting instead now continue with getting down to some serious testing in preparation for 2009.”