Michael Caine is to return to Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the rest of the season after agreeing a deal to join Team HARD.

The former British GT champion will replace Chris Smiley at the wheel of the TLC Racing Toyota Avensis, with the Northern Irishman stepping back to the Renault Clio Cup with Jamsport having run into sponsorship problems.

Caine’s debut with the team will come this weekend at Snetterton, where he will seek to challenge for points in what will be his fourth BTCC meeting; the previous three having come with Motorbase in two separate spells.

“We want to be clear that we are still very much involved with Smiley,” Team HARD boss Tony Gilham said. “Chris is an amazing driver, as everyone will see in Clios, but unfortunately the promised funds and support never came and so the off-track distraction hampered his progress and also development with the car.

“Due to him being let down he has been up against it from day one and therefore unable to showcase what he can really do.

“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Michael Caine for the rest of the year, who can help push the car forwards. Michael has vast experience and has shown with Motorbase that he can secure results in both GT racing and the BTCC. We’re all looking forward to working together.”

Caine himself, who had been working on trying to secure a deal to compete in the BTCC during the winter, admitted he was delighted to have reached an agreement to join the grid.

“This opportunity came up, and it is interesting,” he said. “The team has punched above its weight this season with Michael Epps and Jake Hill, and I hope I will be able to add some experience to the operation. Lots of people behind the scenes have helped to make this possible, and I will give it my best shot.”