Smith confirmed for second VX Racing season.

Irish racing driver Gavin Smith has been confirmed at VX Racing for a second season in the third VXR Astra Sport in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Smith, who scored two podium places last season in his debut in the British series, joins Tom Chilton and Fabrizio Giovanardi to defend the team's manufacturer's title.

"I'm going to build on last year's progress from the first race," said the 28-year-old, who finished in tenth place in the 2005 championship standings. "This season is going to start off good for me at Brands Hatch where I had one of my strongest races last year. I know there's more to come."

Smith is looking forward to partnering two new team-mates with Giovanardi and Chilton.

"Having two strong team-mates again this year is great. Both of them are very successful drivers in their own fields but Yvan and Colin were no walk-overs and I took the competition to them more than once."

VX Racing's team principal Ian Harrison says Smith was always his first choice to complete the team.

"I think he's shown he has good speed in the last couple of events," said Harrison. "The consistency of keeping him in the car is good for him and for the team. He's shown he can get on the podium. Now I just need him to start doing it every weekend!"