WITH just eight races remaining of the 2002 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season, young Tom Boardman has set his sights on a top three finish.

To do that, he needs to forget about some of the bad luck he has suffered recently and get back to points-scoring race finishes - starting this weekend at Norfolk's Snetterton circuit in Rounds 13 and 14.

The 18-year-old endured a rotten weekend at Croft, North Yorkshire, last time out - coming home with just three points added to his total.

But, although joint fifth in the BTC Production Class table, he is just 26 points adrift of second place and knows that front-running performances for the remainder of the year can get him into a prize-winning position.

He has proved he can run with the leaders - three second-place results so far are testament to that - and he needs to do just that to stand a chance of finishing the year in the thoughts of the BTC Touring team bosses as well as with a boosted bank balance (the winner of BTC Production will get £7,000 with £4,000 and £ 3,000 the prizes for second and third respectively).

The Edenbridge-racing BMW 320i driver, of Forton, says: "The two races at Croft really hurt my championship chances.

James Kaye the series leader is now 63 points in front and will be very difficult to catch, but second and third places are still achievable.

" Realistically, although mathematically I can still win the title, I have to look at trying to finish second in the championship.

"That way I know the BTC Touring teams will look at me for a drive in the main class next year.

It would also be nice to get a cheque at the end of the year but if a top-three finish leads to a Touring drive next season I'll be more than happy."

He adds: "I've got to start scoring good points finishes again.

In recent races I've had my fair share of bad luck so I want to put that right and Snetterton is as good a place as any to start.

It's a power circuit with two very long and fast straights as well as a couple of all-out corners, so it should suit the BMW.

"If I can come away from Norfolk with two podium finishes and a lot of points in the bag I'll be very please with my weekend's work."

Boardman will be in action on Saturday (July 27th) in qualifying for both races.

Round 13 (15 laps) is scheduled to start at 12.05pm on Sunday, while the 25-lap Round 14 should get under way at 4.25pm.