ONE of British motor sport's hottest young talents has ended speculation about his future by signing for one of the strongest squads in the 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Tom Boardman, who last year, at 17, was the youngest ever driver in the prestigious BTCC, will compete this season for the Edenbridge Racing BMW team in the BTC Production class.

Rumours were rife throughout the winter that the Lancashire teenager would make the step up into the main BTC Touring class of the championship, but he has chosen to remain in BTC Production to have a serious attempt at lifting the class title.

Now 18, Boardman feels he needs to continue to gain race experience before an assault on the main class.

He says: "I had plenty of offers and could have taken a drive in BTC Touring this year, but I think it would have been too soon for me to make the move.

"I've only done one year in BTC production and already learned a lot more about racing at this level; now with Edenbridge I will hopefully be able to get some BTCC racing wins under my belt and gain more experience.

"I believe if you make the move into BTC touring too quickly it could have an adverse affect on your career.

"The guys at the front, like Yvan Muller, James Thompson and Matt Neal, have been racing at this level for years and know every trick in the book so it would be very east for someone like me to end every race in a gravel trap - and you don't learn anything sitting there!"

Boardman, of Forton, added: "I want to be successful in the BTCC and that's why I've chosen to stay in BTC Production.

"If I can run at the front and score some wins, that will be more beneficial to me than getting knock off at the first corner or running round at the back in BTC Touring.

"I'm very excited about the year ahead.

Edenbridge are a great team and I should learn a lot."

While the move marks a split from his father, John, who ran Tom's team last year, Boardman senior is quite happy about it.

He said: "I always I always knew I could only take him so far.

And Peter Briggs (team principal of Edenbridge Racing) has managed F1 teams and drivers such as James Hunt and has also won the British bF3 Championship and last year finished class runner-up in the European Touring Car Championship.

"It's a really good move, Edenbridge will give Tom a car that is capable of winning races and it will be up to him to make the best of it.

"If he performs well this season and gets a few victories he could possibly put himself in the shop window for a works BTC Touring drive next year."

The 2002 MSA British Touring Car Championship season kicks off on Easter Monday, April 1, on the famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix track in Kent, with rounds one and two.