NEW Forest touring car racer Justin Keen has teamed up with BMW works driver Patrick Huisman in a bid to kickstart his season.

The former European F3000 campaigner from Bealieu has been floundering at the wrong end of the field since making his BTCC debut with the Edenbridge Racing Team last month.

Now Keen has been involved in special testing with BMW specialist Huisman at Snetterton to speed up development work on his own BMW 320i.

Keen explained: "It's been a frustrating start to the season owing to the late deal to join the 2004 Championship, and the test with Patrick was part of the continued commitment to improve the competitiveness of the car."

Edenbridge and Keen have struggled to improve the performance of the car since he joined the championship at Brands Hatch, and Huisman confirmed Keen's conclusion that further development is required to mirror the success of BMW European Championship teams.

The team now have to revise the set-up of the car and are under additional pressure because BTCC rules dictate that they have only one more test day available this season.

Keen added "We were encouraged by the outcome of the test and will continue to work on advancing the performance in time for the next round at Mondello Park next Sunday."

The team got a boost this week with news that the BTCC have granted cars running to ETCC regulations a 25-kilogram reduction in weight with effect from Mondello Park. The decision also effects the SEAT Toledos and the Thruxton-based Team Sureterm's Alfa Romeo 156s.