A CHEPSTOW racing driver will be making his return to full time competitions in this year's British GT Championship.

James Harrison, 24, of Llanvair Discoed, will be driving an Aston Martin Vantage for Academy Motorsports starting with the Oultan Park circuit in Cheshire on April 4.

This will be Harrison's return to racing after competing in his teenager years.

He started karting when he was 10-years-old at the Llandow Circuit in Cowbridge before going on to win the Ginetta Junior championship when he was 16-years-old.

For the past few years the Monmouth School pupil has been road testing Aston Martin, Audi and Porsche cars.

He said: "This season will be my biggest to date as it will be my return to full time racing. I've worked within the industry for the last few years - I am very familiar with the car as the race car is very similar to the road car.

"This is the most competitive racing I have ever done. I am up against the best drivers in the country - I love the competition and the challenge."

He added: "On a quick course the car can go 170mph, even on the slow ones it can go 130mph. The Aston’s breaks are really good and you can brake really late and hard on corners.”

In 2007, Harrison was racing in the Radical Enduro championship, which is the UK's fastest single-marque championship.

The British GT season last from April to September and includes seven races. The first is in Outlan Park followed by Rockingham, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Donington Park.