Twenty-five year-old Rob, from Cambridge, burst onto the British touring car scene with a works drive for Seat last year, taking two amazing victories and multiple podium finishes, and has rapidly settled down in this year's inaugural world series, becoming the first of the three Chevrolet drivers to score drivers points. Now he has been selected as the first driver to test the new engine, which should allow a three percent increase in horsepower, at the MIRA proving ground next Monday.

"I'm really pleased to be the first one to try out the new engine," said Rob. "It'll give me the chance to see first-hand how it is and to hopefully iron out any problems. A three percent power increase might not seem a lot but it is a big chunk. The only thing we don't know is how that extra power will affect the car, the chassis, the handling etc. so until we have our first run on Monday, we cannot predict too much."

Already changes to the chassis and brakes have greatly improved the performance of the cars and Rob and the team now hope the new engine will enable them to qualify in the top ten and take their fifth consecutive points scoring result. In only his first season on the world stage, Rob has regularly out-qualified and out-raced his more experienced team-mates but is quick to point out the role both Alain Menu and Nicola Larini have also played in the team's progress this season.

"It's very much a team effort. I think some people have been a little bit surprised by me out-qualifying and out-racing them a few times as I'm really the new boy. But we've all helped each other, we all get on really well and sit down and go through things together. Of course that does not mean we do not all want to beat each other, after all, your team-mates are your biggest competition.

"In only our first season I think we, and I mean the drivers and the team, have done a great job. The other manufacturers racing with us have so much more experience in International competition and we did not really expect to be having such a strong first year. We have picked up some teams and drivers points and qualified within one second of pole in the last four races. We've scored points in the last four rounds too so these are all positives."

The Spanish event will take place next weekend (October 1/2) at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. The weekend will kick off with two 30-minutes free practice sessions at 09.00 and 12.35 on Saturday before qualifying at 15.40. A Sunday morning warm-up at 09.35 will be followed by the first of two 13 lap races at 15.10 and then again at 16.15. Eurosport will broadcast live coverage of both races.

The Championship will then enjoy a seven-week break before the season finale, on the streets of Macau, in China on November 19/20.