TWO young racing drivers are hoping to enhance their reputations when Croft Circuit hosts the British Touring Car Championship this weekend.

Rob Shield, 18, from Cleasby, near Darlington, and 19-year-old Max Coates, from Scorton, North Yorkshire, will both compete in separate support series' for the main event.

It will be Shield's second bit of competitive action at his home circuit, although it will be in rather different circumstances to the credible fourth place finish he achieved in last year's Rallycross Grand Prix.

Then, he was driving a Suzuki Swift having made the transition from karts to cars, but now he has the opportunity to take another step up the racing ladder when he takes part in the Formula Ford Championship today and tomorrow.

It will be an entirely new experience for the teenager, who only sat in the car he will be racing in for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.

That doesn't phase Shield, though, and he is keen to take the opportunity to hopefully secure a permanent place on the Formula Ford Championship next year.

"I've been talking to the team for quite awhile," Shield explained. They came to me with the offer to do this weekend and I couldn't really refuse to be honest.

"It'll be something a bit different. I've done a lot of karting and that's really physical but this is on another level so I've got to get used to it and do a little bit of work.

"We've decided to knock karting on the head and try to move into cars. This will be the first opportunity to race away from karts with the budget.

"I want to progress in my career and move up the ladder in motorsport. I'm quite lucky because a lot of people would love to be in my position and I definitely don't take it for granted."

Although he hasn't had much time to get used to his new car, Shield is hoping to compete in his three races over the weekend. And on top of that, the 18-year-old hopes a good performance can attract potential sponsors to help back his quest to go right to the top of motor racing.

He said: "It's an opportunity to show what I can do. I don't expect to be at the top straight away. Wednesday was the first time I've driven the car so it's a learning curve, but a lot of people have helped make it happen and I want to make them proud too.

"Racing is what we want to do but we can't do it without people helping us and backing us. Getting funding is the biggest test.

"I'd hope to do a whole season of Formula Ford next season but again it's getting budgets sorted out. This weekend I'll see if I'm a good fit for it and push on trying to do more of it."

Shield is good friends with Scorton-based Coates, who will also make a return to Croft this weekend to race in the Ginetta Supercup.

The 19-year-old has had a difficult year trying to secure sponsorship to enable him to race regularly, but thanks to some support from various quarters, Coates will be lining up on the grid this weekend.

"It's very frustrating when I can't find sponsors but it is tough for all drivers because of the tough economic climate," the teenager said.

"I've managed to get support from the Benjamin Gautrey foundation for this weekend as well as others, Ben was a personal friend of mine who sadly passed away."

Due to a lack of funding, Max has not been able to race since 2012, but the youngster is still confident of achieving success this weekend.

Coates will join leading outfit Century Motorsport, whose car won last time out. He will be driving the Ginetta G55 after previously driving the G50 last year and is confident the step-up will not be a problem.

"I've driven the G55 before and there isn't that much of a difference.

"You cannot tell with regards to the power but there is a noticeable difference in terms of aerodynamics, the car will stick to the floor."

Despite the difficulties he has faced this year, and his lack of competitive action, the 19-year-old has high expectations that he can do well at the weekend, and knows finishing highly could be important for his future.

He said: "We need to win a race. I expect to be at the front end of the races.

"If you're doing well in the lower classes, I can bring myself to the top teams in the British Touring Car Championship.

"I want to be back and want to show at Croft that I'm capable of doing the business."

Coates will be joined in the Ginetta Supercup by Newcastle racer Dan Jones, who will his debut in the category for the fifth round of the 2013 season.

The 37-year-old Newcastle racer will compete in the G50 class with defending team champions Richardson Racing as he makes the switch into shorter, sprint races, having spent recent years competing in longer, endurance events.

Jones' deal with the Grantham-based team will see him back behind the wheel of a Ginetta G50 for the first time since he competed in the Britcar 24 Hours in a GT4 variant of the car back in 2011.

His agreement with Richardson Racing is currently for his home event only, although discussions are ongoing about other potential outings in the second half of the season.