A number of BTCC cars were on track at a bright and breezy Silverstone today (14 November) with preparations for the 2014 season already well underway.

Manufacturers’ and teams’ champions Honda Yuasa Racing were running one car during the open day test, whilst the rival MG squad were also in attendance.

It was Chris Smiley taking up the driving duties for MG KX Momentum Racing, however, after he was drawn at random by team boss Ian Harrison to receive the test as part of a prize.

Smiley won the 2013 MINI Challenge R56 JCW Class and earned a number of raffle tickets for the chance to test the car, as did all class winners from the series throughout the season. Smiley called it a ‘dream come true’ and also benefitted from the expertise of BTCC race winner Sam Tordoff, who was on hand to provide tuition at the home of the British Grand Prix.

Team HARD continued its testing programme, running in anger for the second time since the close of the season, as VW Passat regular Warren Scott completed many miles before a late off ended his run.

Interestingly 2009 BTCC Champion Colin Turkington drove the squad’s other Passat with the Ulsterman getting the chance to sample another NGTC machine, having raced the eBay Motors BMW throughout the 2013 campaign.

“We’d love to have Colin in the car next season as he’s a world class touring car driver,” said team boss Tony Gilham. “Nothing is decided yet and he is quite rightly assessing his options for 2014, but it was a good run and we hope there’s more to come.”

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