A DORSET drag racer will be looking to make a big impression when this year's MSA British Drag Racing Championship gets under way at Easter.

Forty-eight-year-old Kevin Slyfield, from Verwood, made his debut last Easter in Pro Modified, the Motor Sports Association's designated championship class.

Already a proven champion in the Sportsman Pro ET class, it was a huge step up for Slyfield, who reached the championships in a heavyweight Plymouth Belvedere - a car capable of covering the standing-start quarter-mile in just 11 seconds.

His latest projectile delivers six-second quarter-miles, topping 200mph at the finish line, and demands nerves of steel along with a different handling approach.

A 1941 Willys body cloaks a tubular racing chassis that's hurled into action by an 8.6 litre V8 engine supercharged on methanol, providing a combined horsepower of three Formula One cars.

Slyfield's 2007 season reached best figures of 7.279 seconds at 193.97mph, but with improved cylinder heads, a new supercharger installed on the motor and a year's experience, he is looking forward to making a name for himself this season.

"It was so weather affected last season that we only got about half the amount of runs we wanted to, so I'm still in the learning stage," he explained.

"But I've upgraded considerably over the winter, so we'll see what happens."

He faces some strong competition, however, with two new British entries set to join the field in MSA Round One. Hampshire's Andy Robinson will begin the defence of his MSA title against Britain's Pro Mod elite, along with strong Swedish and Dutch teams.

Round One takes place during the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball meet (March 21-24) at Santa Pod Raceway, near Wellingborough, Northants.