SIMON Belcher has hailed his debut season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as his most enjoyable for a decade.

The Swindon driver concluded the 2014 finale on Sunday with a brace of top 20 finishes at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit.

Belcher has been left craving more in 2015 after his maiden campaign in the BTCC was beset by misfortune.

After chalking-up a top 20 finish in the first race at Brands Hatch on Sunday, and only just missing out on another in race two, the KÄRCHER-backed driver added a season best-equalling 18th place in a rain-lashed finale to secure his fourth Independents Trophy points score of the season.

That left the Toyota Avensis driver ending his maiden season in 11th position overall in the Jack Sears Trophy battle – a separate contest for Independents competitors based on their respective grid improvements in each race over the course of the year.

“My first season in touring cars has been better, far better than I ever thought the experience would be”, said Belcher.

“It’s got me back to enjoying my racing and although there have been some frustrations, it’s still been fantastic.

“I haven’t enjoyed my racing like this for a long time – you’d have to go back to my early days in Legends about 10 years ago.

“It’s onwards and upwards now for next year. I’d like to try and get some good testing done over the winter but raising the budget for that is always tough.

“Hopefully we will be able to get out there, though, and make sure we’re in real good shape for the start of next year.”

Inclement weather over the weekend at Brands Hatch played a big role and Handy Motorsport driver Belcher showed good skill in wet conditions.

Beginning the dry opening race from 27th position on the grid, Belcher managed to slice his way through first corner chaos to rocket into the top-20 but, in a race impacted by safety car interventions, he slipped down a place to finish 21st.

Despite the final race of the season not starting in an ideal manner, with Belcher tipped into a spin at Paddock Hill Bend, the appearance of the safety car enabled him to latch onto the back of the train and the Wiltshire racer made his way up the order into 18th position.