Sidecar ace Archer aims to hit the mark

Archer and his passenger, Steve Thomas, from the Wirral, will be racing together for the second straight year in the British F1 Sidecar Championship.

The pair will be backed by Hannafin Contractors Ltd in the premier sidecar class, which runs alongside the British Superbike championship.

The team will also have a second sidecar in the same series in the form of Portsmouth driver Ben Holland and passenger, Lee Watson, from Rayleigh in Essex.

Archer said. "I can't wait for the season to start and to have two bikes in the championship can only add to the competition.

"I'm training hard and raring to go."

The 10-round championship is regarded as one of the main sidecar events in the world, being watched by thousands of fans live and on television.

Peter Hannafin, owner of Worcestershire-based Hannafin Contractors Ltd, said: "We have supported Rupert for the past three years in the British championship.

"I am excited at the prospect of bringing together a two-bike team to compete for 2016.

"We are ambitious and hope to see both bikes in the top five of the championship by the end of the year."

Holland, rider of the second Hannafin outfit, said he was delighted to join the team for 2016.

"We now have a busy couple of months ahead of us to ensure that we are fully prepared for the first round," he said.

"We want to hit the ground running and compete for podiums and race wins."

The championship will have an added star attraction this season when British and World Superbike star Chris Walker makes his debut.

Walker, who has finished runner-up in the premier domestic championship four times, will campaign on three wheels in 2016 riding a Kawasaki LCR for Roger Body's Santander Salt Team.

A select number of F2 teams will also be able to compete alongside the British F1 grid as part of an F2 Cup competition for the first time. The change will enable teams with TT machines or British F2 machines to showcase their talents in front of the BSB crowds and on EuroSport TV.

The first race is scheduled for Oulton Park, with warm-up, practice and the main race taking place from April 30 to May 2. Team Hannafin will officially launch the two bikes in the new blue and white livery next month.