Moffat: One step back, two steps forward...

Aiden Moffat believes the decision to replace the Mercedes A-Class with the Infiniti Q50 will give Laser Tools Racing the package to challenge for the British Touring Car Championship in future seasons.

The Laser Tools squad purchased the ex-Infiniti/Support Our Paras Racing Infiniti Q50s earlier this year and ran the car for the first time during the Snetterton tyre test last month.

Moffat has taken all three of his BTCC race victories in Mercedes machinery, but the 22-year old is confident the Infiniti Q50 will allow him to push for greater things in the coming seasons.

"We’ve not brought this car out to come into the first race and challenge for a podium or a win. We know we’ll be at the back this weekend, there’s nothing surer," Moffat told Crash.net.

"This change is all about giving us six months extra on 2020 plans. It means one step back and two steps forward. We know we’re not going to be on the pace and that we’ll struggle this weekend.

"That’s fine because it’s all about the bigger picture so I can still enjoy that, knowing what we’re working towards. I’m confident about the future.

"Just now I think there’ll be a lot of people looking and thinking it’s the wrong decision but you need to be more open minded and understand why we’ve done this move."

Switching to the Infiniti means Moffat and Laser Tools Racing will have to adapt to RWD machinery after running the FWD Mercedes for the past five years.

"We’ve been here this long so we want to get a package where we can challenge. This is what this is about. We’re learning RWD discipline, the team are learning how to set up a RWD car," Moffat continued.

"I’m learning how to manage the tyres, race it and adapt it. Hopefully we’ll hit the ground running next year, rather than suffering all year and being mid-pack in a Mercedes.

"We know there’s a lot of potential there. So we’re just going to have to grin and bear it and just keep focussed on where we want to get to.

"It’s a lot longer wheelbase. It’s left hand rather than right hand drive and its RWD rather than FWD. I’ve never properly raced RWD so it’s a new thing for me."

Moffat currently sits 18th in the drivers' standings with a best finish of fourth at Brands Hatch Indy season.