There has been some better news this week for North-East racing driver Warren Hughes, who has confirmed an offer of a race deal by Porsche GB to compete in two rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship this weekend at Silverstone.

The series is a one-make championship for identical race-prepared Porsche GT3 cars and supports the British Touring Car Championship.

Although the event is a one-off outing, Hughes is aware of the importance of keeping in the limelight and is hopeful other opportunities may follow.

"I'm taking the event very seriously" he said. "It is a chance to remind everyone I am still around and looking for an opportunity. The best way to do that is to win."

Since his split from MG in the British Touring Car Championship, Hughes has been combining commentary for Channel 4 on the British F3 series with a hunt for a drive in a number of categories for this season and beyond.

"Both touring cars and the Le Mans 24-Hour race are unfinished business for me, " he said. "Being invited to race with Porsche GB is a compliment which could open up some good connections with the Porsche factory, who support a number of Le Mans teams."

Hughes had just one short test session yesterday before qualifying today.

Race One is scheduled to take place at 2.45pm this afternoon followed by Race Two at 12.50pm tomorrow, which will be broadcast live on satellite channel Motors TV.

Meanwhile, Danilo Dirani came away happiest from Croft after the British F3 Championship visited the North Yorkshire circuit last weekend.

The Brazilian qualified on pole for the first truly dry race day of the year and led both rounds from lights to flag.

Seeming to struggle for straight-line speed, countryman and title favourite Nelson Angelo Piquet had to settle for fifth in Race One - profiting from Adam Carroll's demise at Clervaux on Lap 1 and a coming-together with Ernesto Viso which broke the Venezuelan's suspension.

However, Viso had the satisfaction of watching Piquet retire in Race 2. A mechanical problem brought the youngster's afternoon to a premature end while the field was still bunched behind the Safety Car, deployed after Irishman Carroll's second crash of the day, which also took out James Rossiter.