Dave Pinkney says he is “raring to go” at Thruxton this weekend after getting back behind the wheel of his A-Tech Alfa Romeo for the first time since recovering from an enormous crash at Brands Hatch two months ago.

Pinkney, the chairman of Luton Town Football Club, shook down his Alfa at Mallory Park yesterday (Wednesday). It is actually the car recently vacated by Richard Marsh as Pinkney’s own was wrecked beyond repair in the Brands shunt.

He told BTCC.net: “I loved it. I’m fully fit after the accident again and raring to go. I’m also confident we can be at the sharp end at Thruxton – we led there in May in a car that had virtually no miles on it and since then we’ve turned it into a completely different piece of kit. Plus, we have the very latest specification Alfa engine for this meeting.”

Pinkney’s confidence is such that he believes he can yet win a year-long bet with BTCC Series Director Alan Gow that would earn him £10,000.

“I bet Gow £10,000 at last year’s BTCC Awards I’d win a race in 2007. He’d better have his chequebook ready,” added Pinkney.

Pinkney, aged 50, was reportedly subjected to an impact of more than 20-G when his car smashed into the back of Matt Neal’s Honda Civic in a multiple pile-up at Brands hatch in August. The accident meant he missed Knockhill’s most recent rounds.

“Up to Knockhill I was still on my back resting,” he explained. “At the time I thought I’d broken my neck which I’d broken before in a skiing accident but that wasn’t the case. The stiffness has gradually disappeared, though, and I’m pretty much back to normal, immersed in my work and driving about.”

Source btcc.net