Northfleet’s Brett Lidsey is relishing his second year in Germany’s Nurburgring Endurance Series.

He is returning with Sorg Rennsport and will again partnered by Russian Ivan Berets in the BMW M240i.

The first race of the new nine-round campaign takes place this Saturday at the world-famous circuit.

Lidsey’s maiden season in the championship last year saw him claim a podium finish, second in class last August in the six-hour fifth round.

He’s spent the winter preparing for another shot at the series.

“I’m really excited to be back,” said the Kent race driver.

“It was our target to be back for a second season so I’m very thankful to my sponsors for making it happen.

“Likewise, if we were coming back I wanted to be with the Sorg Rennsport guys as they did a fantastic job last year.

“Teaming up with Ivan again means we’ve got some fantastic continuity, and I really do think we have a great chance to challenge for the podium on Saturday in the first round.

“With the experience I gained last year, the fact we know the car inside-out as well, I really am feeling confident for the new season and can’t wait to see how we get on.”

Last year was Lidsey’s first ever season racing rear-wheel drive and also his first full campaign outside the UK.

He added: “If everything goes to plan at the weekend, and we have the reliability you always need in this championship, I think we can make a very strong start to 2021.

“We were getting quicker and more competitive throughout last season, we were sure the first win was only a matter of time.”

Lidsey has the continued support of long-standing partners Liftout, Dornack, GPL Projects Ltd and Certus Security. It means the 29-year-old is able to return for a major bid in the Cup 5 Class at the wheel of Sorg’s ‘Avia Talk’ liveried BMW M240i.

Official pre-season testing, which had been scheduled for last Saturday, was cancelled due to snow and minus temperatures at the Nordschleife. Therefore, Lidsey’s first mileage since last August will come this Friday, when two practice sessions will be staged. Saturday morning qualifying is followed by the season’s opening four-hour race at 12pm (11am UK time).