Four-time champion Colin Turkington will spearhead Team BMW’s assault for a fifth successive year in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The 38-year-old finished as runner-up in the Drivers’ title race last year and aims to go one better in the upcoming campaign to add to his record-equalling total of championship crowns.

Driving the BMW 330i M Sport, designed, built and run by WSR, Turkington scored 13 podium finishes in 27 races – more than any other driver – an unequalled six wins and two pole positions, as he fought for the title all the way to the season finale. 

Turkington made his BTCC debut with the WSR-run Team Atomic Kitten in 2002 and has spent his most successful years in the series with the team, securing each of his overall Drivers’ titles plus four of his five Independents’ crowns and a World Touring Car Championship win in WSR BMWs.

With 56 BTCC race wins under his belt, the Northern Irishman places fourth on the series’ all-time winners’ list, as well as recording 154 podium finishes, 22 pole positions and 61 fastest laps.

Turkington’s confirmation as part of the Team BMW line-up kicks off a landmark 2021 for WSR, which sees the squad celebrate its 40th birthday and the 25th anniversary of its BTCC debut. The Sunbury-on-Thames team has won 14 outright BTCC titles – including 13 in the past seven seasons with BMW touring cars.

“The confirmation from BMW UK to continue their Team BMW programme allows WSR and I to launch our 14th BTCC season together,” said Turkington. “It’s not always easy to put these campaigns together year on year, but to have done so for 14 years and collected numerous titles along the way is something I’m incredibly proud of. We’ve grown together throughout this time, sharing a great deal of ambition, respect and trust along the way.  

“Every year I want to go the extra mile for this team, and every year they do the same for me. It makes me smile that we get to chase our title dreams together for BMW once again, and I feel extremely fortunate to be the torchbearer for them.

“What we achieved together last season was phenomenal.  The pace of the BMW was blistering and we really were the ones to beat. It didn’t have the fairy-tale ending we all wanted, but believe it or not, you can learn a great deal from defeat, so I’m convinced I will bring an even better package to the table this year.

“We have high hopes for the new season and the series is in great shape. The rule tweaks and driver shuffles over the winter have further spiced up the Championship, so I’m certain it will be as exciting as ever. I’m raring to go!”

“We’re really pleased to continue with both Colin and BMW in 2021,” added Team Principal Dick Bennetts. “Colin was barely out of his teens when he first raced for us in 2002, and it’s been truly special for us as a team to have been able to support him in winning his four BTCC titles and becoming one of the best drivers the series has ever had.

“Naturally our target is to win the Drivers’, Teams’, and Manufacturers’ titles this year for BMW, our sponsors and technical partners as we mark the 25th anniversary of our BTCC debut and the 40th of WSR.  While achieving this gets tougher every year as the level of competition improves, having Colin onboard with his never-say-die attitude, his analytical approach and his searing speed certainly puts us in a strong position.”

The 64th British Touring Car Championship begins on 8/9 May at Thruxton, Hampshire, and takes in eight circuits the length and breadth of the country, with each of the 30 rounds screened live and exclusively in HD on ITV4.

As the countdown to the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is hotting up, we will be taking a look back at some of the major announcements that have happened so far.

We will provide you with bitesize info on each of the breaking stories that have begun to shape the upcoming season, as well as links to the full article, so that you can make sure you are up-to-date on all things BTCC!

Today, we're looking back at the news that broke during November and December, before we turn our attention to January later this week.

Here's a rundown of all the driver, team, car and championship info that arrived before we said goodbye to 2020...

EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars join forces and confirm Butel

The first big news came ahead of the 2020 Season Finale, as EXCELR8 Motorsport and Trade Price Cars Racing announced that the two squads would be teaming up to field a four-car attack on the 2021 campaign. Following this, the first of the four Hyundai drivers was then unveiled in December, as Jack Butel was confirmed for his sophomore year in the BTCC.

Hill confirmed for another two years with MB Motorsport

On the eve of Brands Hatch’s season-closing event, MB Motorsport announced the signing of Jake Hill, with the squad also retiring its pair of Honda Civic Type R FK2s after the weekend.

Ciceley Motorsport announces new BMWs

Ciceley Motorsport revealed it would be contesting a pair of BMW 330i M Sports following the retirement of the Mercedes-Benz A-Classes at Brands Hatch.

Team HARD Racing confirms Cupra trio

December saw Kent-based squad Team HARD Racing announce three of the four drivers getting behind the wheel of the new-for-2021 Cupras, with 2020 drivers Jack Goff and Glynn Geddie, and series returnee Aron Taylor-Smith, making up three-quarters of the line-up.

Team HARD Racing and Laser Tools Racing declare partnership

On Christmas Eve, reigning Independent Teams’ Champions, Laser Tools Racing, and Team HARD Racing announced a new partnership, which will see titleholder Ash Sutton and team-mate Aiden Moffat joined by Carl Boardley in a trio of Infiniti Q50s.

Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport part ways

During the festive period, Speedworks Motorsport and driver Tom Ingram announced they would be embarking upon new challenges and parting ways in the 2021 BTCC, attributing the move to commercial considerations.

BTC Racing retains Cook and Crees

The final BTCC team announcement of 2020 saw BTC Racing confirm Josh Cook and Jack Sears Trophy winner Michael Crees would be sticking with the squad, marking Cook’s third and Crees’ second campaign with the Brackley-based team.

Rule changes for 2021

In addition to the above, December saw the announcement of several rule and regulation changes, including changes to ballast and the qualifying format during some events. Check out the full story here.

With numerous announcements also made during January, head back to btcc.net on Friday for the BTCC Pre-Season Recap: January, to make sure you’re up-to-date with all the major BTCC 2021 announcements so far.

The Official BTCC website caught up with EXCELR8 Motorsport Team Principal Justina Williams in an exclusive Q&A, to find out more about the team’s expectations for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, what joining forces with Trade Price Cars Racing will mean for the squad and more…

How did you expect the new Hyundais to perform in 2020?

As a team, we are no strangers to building and developing cars as we’ve been doing it for a long time in the MINI CHALLENGE, and we gathered a lot of data and information whilst running the MGs in 2019 that we were able to take into the build of the new cars.

We spent time evaluating our options before choosing the Hyundai and then focused on strengthening our technical team to make sure that we were able to build a car that was capable of moving us forwards up the grid.

From the moment we made the decision to build the Hyundai, we were confident that it was going to be a big step forwards from the MG, although we didn’t know how big that step would be until we got out on track.

Being faced with a global pandemic meant we weren’t able to go out and test the car as much as we would have liked before the season started, but we knew that the car was good on paper and that in Chris Smiley and Senna Proctor, we had two drivers who were capable of getting results.

Did they meet your expectations?

Overall, I’d say they did for year one of the programme. Obviously, the results were a huge step forwards compared to the MG from the very start, and to get a podium finish at Donington Park in round one was a fantastic achievement for us.

At the same time though, when you get a podium finish so early, you want to try and get that win so it was a bit of a shame that we didn’t manage to get it!

However, I think we have to be pleased with how the season went when you take into account all the challenges that we faced. Developing a new car at this level against teams that have been racing in the BTCC for many, many years is never going to be easy, and the impact of the pandemic certainly made it tougher.

We were effectively developing the car at race weekends throughout the season and we were always learning, so to come away from the year having been competitive at every circuit, consistently in the points, and with our first BTCC silverware gives us a good basis to build on.

You must be thrilled with the improvement of the team in 2020 compared to the first year. What was different about the approach of the team last year?

I don’t think our approach was vastly different to the first year, but the big thing is that we had a year of experience behind us and were no longer the newcomers learning the ropes.

Although we have a lot of experience in running a race team, moving into touring cars took everything to the next level, and there was an element of needing to learn about all the processes that are involved in a race weekend that were different to what we had done before.

The switch to the new car obviously helped in making us more competitive, and we also benefitted from having two drivers with a bit more experience than Rob Smith and Sam Osborne, who did a brilliant job for us in year one but who were also learning alongside us.

It’s a combination of little things, but certainly that year of experience was an important factor.

Heading into your second year with the Hyundais, what are your expectations for 2021? 

In the same way we benefitted in 2020 from the experience we gained in 2019, I think we should be looking to build on everything we learned about the Hyundai last season and continue to work our way forwards.

Not only do we have a year of experience under our belts with the car, we also now have all the data that we collected last year to work with, which is going to be hugely beneficial.

There is plenty of work being done to improve the car from where it was when we left Brands Hatch, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that translates into on-track performance when we go out testing and then head to Thruxton for round one.

We had two podium finishes last season, so clearly the goal for 2021 is to have many more and to take our first win!

Talk us through what teaming up with Trade Price Cars will mean for the squad... 

It’s another step towards us establishing ourselves in the BTCC and is a good deal both in terms of the racing on track, but also commercially off it.

The fact that we are doubling our entry to four cars is a positive thing as we work towards our ultimate goal of fighting for championship titles, and Dan Kirby and Trade Price Cars share similar goals for the future.

As I said when we first announced the new partnership, Dan is someone who puts a lot of work into the commercial side of racing and knows how important it is to deliver value for the partners that allow us to go racing.

Pooling our knowledge and resources together can only be beneficial for us both going forwards.

Obviously up to this point you’ve confirmed three of your four drivers for 2021, what do you think the dynamic will be between the drivers?

I’m hugely excited about the driver line-up we have announced so far, and it puts us in a strong position going into the new season.

In Tom, we have a driver with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who knows what it takes to win races and fight for championships. I think he is one of those drivers who every team would like to have in their car and bringing him onboard is an indication of where we aspire to be.

I’m also expecting big things from Chris this season and being able to re-sign him for a second year has been another important part of our plans. He did a great job in helping us to develop the car last year, and his 'never say die' attitude also pushes the team on.

I think he and Tom will work well together to help us get even more from the car, and they will also help Jack to raise his game and take the step up to the next level.

Although he doesn’t have their experience in touring car terms, he did a solid job last season considering his deal to join the grid was so last minute, and I see no reason why he can’t be regularly pushing for points.

The Official BTCC website caught up with Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship driver Dan Cammish, in an exclusive interview where the 31-year-old reflects on the highly-competitive 2020 campaign, discusses his approach to racing and explains how he's hoping to utilise his experience within the championship and 'put things right' in 2021.

Listen to the full interview below...

Another piece of the jigsaw for BTC Racing’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship squad has fallen neatly into place today (1 February), with the announcement Mick Sergeant has been confirmed as the new overall Team Manager.

While Sergeant will oversee all day-to-day business at the Brackley-based squad, Zoe Timbrell retains her role within BTC Racing’s team management structure with the No.99 Honda Civic Type-R of Jade Edwards.

Team Manager Sergeant arrives with vast experience of team management in the BTCC and a career in touring cars which stretches all the way back to the days of the famed Super Touring era.

Starting out in the BTCC in race team electronics in 1997, after ten years in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer, Sergeant took on his first Team Manager role in the BTCC in 2014 with Triple Eight Race Engineering and has since been Team Manager for BMR Racing and Speedworks Motorsport.

More generally, he has also worked across a wide variety of disciplines including the Supercars Championship in Australia, the British GT Championship, GT World Challenge Europe [formerly Blancpain GT Series] and in the FIA Formula One World Championship with the Williams F1 Team.

Steve Dudman – BTC Racing Owner and Team Principal:
“I’m delighted to welcome Mick to BTC Racing in the key role of Team Manager and very much looking forward to working closely with him as we prepare for our biggest season to date. This is a very important year for BTC Racing, so to have the vast experience Mick brings from more than two decades working within the BTCC will be invaluable. 

“Everyone at the team is determined to put together our most successful season yet in the BTCC, we’re leaving no stone unturned and bringing in the very best personnel – like Mick – to help deliver the results we know we are capable of.”

Mick Sergeant – BTC Racing Team Manager:
“I’m chuffed to bits to take on the Team Manager role at BTC Racing, it’s been on my radar for a couple of years now and thanks to Steve [Dudman] and his enthusiasm for the sport, and his investment in the team, the time is right. At the heart of the race team is a core of professionals I’ve worked with before, ensuring we have a very strong foundation from which to move forward.

“We have a great driver line up for the team’s 2021 BTCC campaign with Josh [Cook], Michael [Crees] and Jade [Edwards], we have great team spirit and all the right ingredients for a very successful year. Behind the scenes the hard work has already started, I know we can all work together to achieve the team’s goals and aspirations for 2021 and beyond. Bring it on!”

With a new car and team-mate for the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Ciceley Motorsport driver Adam Morgan is feeling confident about the 2021 campaign, as the 32-year-old fires into his tenth year contesting the series.

The Official BTCC website caught up with Morgan to talk testing, team-mates and ten years in Britain's premier motorsport series in the Q&A below...

With a new car and new team-mate for 2021, what are your expectations for the season? 

My expectations are always high and, as a team, we always aim for the best. The BMW 330i M Sport is a proven race and championship winner, so there are no excuses with what I am driving. This will also be the first time Ciceley Motorsport and I have a team-mate who is more experienced, which can only benefit us. Tom [Chilton] and I seemed to be very matched pace-wise throughout 2020 so having two cars with two drivers at the same pace should really help develop the car quickly.

A two-car team always has benefits, and a two-car team with two quick drivers will have even more benefits. The fact Tom and I have been so equally matched means we can speed up the process of testing different set-ups on the car. Getting good back to back data, good feedback and consistency throughout this development will push not only myself but the team as a whole forward.

Following on from that, last year your team-mate Jack [Butel] was a rookie in the BTCC, whereas Tom Chilton, has contested five more years in the championship than yourself. Does your team-mate’s level of experience change the dynamic between the two of you? 

I don’t think it does really. We have both gathered many years of experience in the BTCC, we both know what it’s about and how to get results. I am sure we will work together very well, and also push each other to improve, that’s what team-mates are all about.

How are you feeling about the front to rear wheel-drive switch? 

A lot of people have commented on this, about getting used to rear wheel-drive, and yes there are a few aspects that I will have to re-learn and adapt to, but as a racing driver, no matter if its FWD or RWD, you get in it and drive it as hard and fast as you possibly can. I started in rallying and then moved to Ginettas so I have a few years’ experience in RWD, so it should hopefully come back to me pretty quick.

 

We’ve seen you’ve been out in the BMW 125i M Sport to get some testing in ahead of the 3 series’ arrival, how was that? 

It was great to get out behind the wheel again and in a rear wheel-drive machine. Conditions have been tricky with wet and damp tracks as well as the cold temperatures. But seat time is invaluable, it has been a long time since either Tom or I drove RWD so it’s great to get out and there and put it into practice. Steve, our engineer, can also use these tests for some data collection.

2021 will mark your tenth BTCC campaign, what advice would you give to your younger self back in 2012 ahead of your maiden season? 

Points mean prizes. I was definitely over-eager in my first year in the BTCC, trying too hard and going for every single position I could. It's the toughest and most competitive championship there is, and you have to finish races, not just go for podiums and wins. With the championship being so competitive I would tell my younger self to just learn, watch the guys at the front, see where they place the car and know when and where not to attack.

 

You obviously hold ambitions to win the title overall but there is also the Independents’ to think about... what are your genuine targets for your first season in the BMW?

I have, of course, set myself some personal targets this year, which I am going to keep to myself.  For the first time ever in the BTCC, I am driving the same machinery that has won the Drivers' and Teams' championship. In my eyes, I have no excuses now.  The Mercedes was older but we still got results, while the BMW is brand new and a proven fast car. Naturally, I’m very excited to see what we can achieve. I would absolutely love for Ciceley Motorsport to win the Independent Teams' Championship.

Following his most successful Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship to-date in 2020, after breaking the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship and concluding the campaign in seventh overall, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square driver Jake Hill will no doubt be aiming for glory in 2021.

Following the Brands Hatch season finale, Hill headed into the off-season in confident mood after a new deal with the squad was announced on the eve of the year's closing event.

“It’s a very nice feeling that MB Motorsport wanted to keep me for another year, and that feeling is very much mutual," said Hill. "I love the team and its way of going about things both on and off the track. So it made perfect sense for me to stay.”

Learning of Team Owner Shaun Hollamby’s potential acquisition of Motorbase Performance, which was announced on 7 January, Hill felt further drawn to the squad, knowing that the move would include a change to the newer Ford Focus STs that the Kent-based troupe brought to the championship in 2020.

“When I found out that the potential move to Motorbase was on, it was even more of an incentive," continued Hill. "It meant a new car, and a very good car at that, but also the amalgamation of both teams. You’ve got two of the very best independent teams ever really in touring cars coming together. What more could I possibly want?”

While moving from the Honda Civic Type R FK2 to the Focus in 2021 would be something new for Hill to tackle, it also sees the return to a newer version of the first car he drove in the series, having contested the MK II at Croft in 2013.

Bolstering his confidence in the move is the success Rory Butcher had with the same change of machine between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In the new Focus ST, Butcher was able to cement himself as a championship contender up to the final event of last year, showing the pace of the car and the potential for a smooth transition from the FK2 for Hill, as well.

“I think Rory and I are very similar in terms of driving styles and I’d like to think that hopefully I’ll be a similar standard and pace heading into 2021. It gives me somewhat of an advantage, knowing what he managed to do with the car and the potential to maybe do more.

“I’m very excited as I think it’s going to be a big step forward. I’ve seen the car a couple of times in the workshop whilst it’s being built and it looks amazing. There’s lots of key developments going on and I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel.”

With testing for the Ford Focus STs yet to take place, as the build of the car is still underway, Hill explains that the schedule has been delayed, reflecting the revised start date for the series.

“As the season is now moved back, we’re probably not going to start testing until March as we want more consistent weather,” he concluded. “With all the rain and snow we've had it makes sense, so that's the plan really at the moment. So I haven’t driven the car yet but I’m very much looking forward to it.

“Day one in the Focus will be a learning curve for both me and my engineer, with it being a new thing for us both. It’s a new car and a new way of going about things with Motorbase Performance. It’s going to really be a case of getting on top of the car in terms of driving it, making sure I’m totally happy and everything fits and works, all that type of stuff!”

MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square and the rest of the full Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid will be lining up for the opening rounds of the season at Thruxton on 8/9 May.

Rory Butcher and Sam Smelt will spearhead Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s assault on Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship glory in 2021, after the team confirmed that the former Independents’ Champion and series returnee will pilot its pair of Toyota Corollas throughout the forthcoming campaign.
 
With five podium finishes from the last six races, the Corolla was the highest-scoring car during the closing stages of the 2020 season and, with a second Toyota now added to the Speedworks Motorsport stable, sights are firmly set on fighting for all three major crowns over the coming months – Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’.
 
That effort will be led by Butcher, who will make his 100th BTCC start in the opening race of the campaign at Thruxton on 9 May. One of the most highly-rated drivers in the paddock, the 33-year-old from Kirkcaldy has to-date achieved six victories, 14 podium finishes, three pole positions and five fastest laps, and has been a title protagonist in two of his three full seasons in the UK’s premier motor racing series.
 
The 2019 Independents’ Champion and Jack Sears Trophy winner has placed inside the top five in the overall standings in each of the past two years, and entered the current off-season on a high by winning the final race of 2020.
 
Butcher’s move to Toyota Gazoo Racing UK will mark his debut for a Manufacturer-backed outfit, and he will be partnered on the driving front by Smelt, who previously competed in the BTCC in 2018, only his second season out of karts.
 
The 24-year-old Northampton-born ace has since been honing and refining his racecraft in the British GT Championship, most recently behind the wheel of Speedworks’ new Toyota GR Supra GT4. A double podium finish, pole position and fastest lap showcased Smelt’s raw speed in the fiercely-contested series, and having sampled the Corolla at Snetterton last November, he is now looking forward to reigniting his BTCC career with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK.
 
“We’re all delighted to welcome Rory and Sam to the team for the 2021 campaign," said Team Principal Christian Dick. "We believe they represent the perfect blend of youth and experience and that they can help to drive us forward as we target all three titles for the first time in the BTCC.
 
“Rory’s calibre is clear to see. It’s easy to forget sometimes that he only has three full seasons in the championship under his belt, because he drives with all the confidence and panache of somebody that has been involved in the BTCC for much longer. His progress has been highly impressive – what he has accomplished since making his debut in the series is quite remarkable, and to already have two titles in his pocket is a phenomenal feat. Hopefully we can achieve the next one together.
 
“We have had many on-track battles with Rory, and he has always been a very hard but fair racer who leaves nothing on the table, so we are really looking forward to having him in the team. He brings with him a fresh perspective and new ideas, and he is a hard worker with an exemplary attitude. I have no doubt that he will be pushing for race wins in the Corolla right from the outset.
 
“Sam is somebody with whom we have forged a strong relationship during the past 12 months. He has been a huge asset to our British GT programme, both in terms of his performance inside the cockpit and his developmental skills out of it, and from talking to him over the course of the campaign, it became obvious just how much he wanted to return to the BTCC.
 
“He is the first to admit that his rookie season in the championship was a tough one – it’s never easy for anybody to step into the BTCC, particularly when you only have one prior year of car racing behind you, and he probably wasn’t as prepared for it as he would have liked to have been. The intervening period has done him the world of good in enabling him to learn and improve away from the spotlight, and he showed a great deal of potential when he drove the Corolla at Snetterton. I honestly think he will surprise people this year.”

“I’m super excited about this new challenge," exclaimed Butcher. "Moving to a Manufacturer-backed team has been a goal of mine ever since I joined the BTCC, and I have no doubt that this will give me my best chance yet of truly fighting for the championship. I feel hugely proud to be wearing and defending the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK colours and will give it my absolute all both on and off-track.
 
“I’ve known Christian [Dick] for some time, going back to when we raced against each other in British GT in 2010. We battled it out for the GT4 title that year, so I’ve always had a lot of respect for him and have taken note of what Speedworks have achieved in the BTCC, especially in recent seasons. Over the past couple of years, we had a few casual conversations about maybe working together at some stage, and when the opportunity finally presented itself, I jumped at it. I’m also immensely grateful to my personal sponsors for their ongoing support in helping to make this deal possible, particularly during such tough economic times.
 
“Despite 2021 being only my fourth full season in the BTCC, the Corolla will be the fifth touring car I’ve driven so hopefully I can bring some of that knowledge to its continued development and perhaps even improve it further. It was arguably the most competitive car on the grid by the end of last year – the team definitely seems to have a proper handle on it now in all conditions and both with or without ballast, so I can’t wait to get behind the wheel to experience it for myself!
 
“Over the past 12 months, I really feel like I’ve matured as a driver, and I’m now much more capable of looking at the bigger picture and putting a championship campaign together. I obviously had a good crack at that in 2020, and whilst things didn’t ultimately go my way, that’s just part of the learning curve and it has unquestionably made me stronger. It’s all about racking up the points in this game – the podiums and wins are a bonus – and there’s no reason at all why we shouldn’t be fighting at the front right from the start.”

“I’m massively excited to be returning to the BTCC," confirmed Smelt. "And to be doing so with such a strong car and team is the icing on the cake. It was always my objective to get back into touring car racing, because I certainly have unfinished business in this championship. It was a tough baptism in 2018, and I’m determined to show I’m capable of an awful lot more than what I achieved that year. The BTCC is so ultra-competitive that you need more than a single season to get to grips with it all. I wanted a second year to be able to take advantage of everything I’d learned, but unfortunately I didn’t get that chance. Now I have.
 
“I’m definitely a very different driver to the one I was back then. I’ve improved a lot over the past couple of years in GTs, especially last season competing consistently towards the front and I return with far more experience of high-level racing. I also have a much better understanding of how to guide and shape the development of a car. It’ll obviously require a little bit of adaptation to re-adjust to the style of racing, but I’m confident that won’t take long and that I’ll quickly settle back into the groove.
 
“It will be fun to be reunited with Rory, too. We were team-mates back in 2018 and we had a strong relationship, so I’m looking forward to working with him again. I’ve always rated him highly as a driver, and he has shown over the past couple of years just what he can do.
 
“I really enjoyed my season with Speedworks in British GT and I followed the team’s BTCC progress closely, culminating in the opportunity to test the Corolla myself at Snetterton a couple of months ago. Even though it was a wet day, the car felt great and I was able to get an initial impression of it. It was good to be back in front wheel-drive machinery and whilst there was nobody else there to gauge myself against, I got a decent amount of mileage under my belt and everything seemed very positive.
 
“I’ve done quite a lot of jumping around in recent seasons, so to have the continuity of staying with the same team – albeit in a different championship – is great. I know the way everybody works, and I’ll be going into a familiar environment, which will hopefully allow me to hit the ground running. I can’t wait to get started!”

The team's double-whammy driver reveal leaves its livery unveil as the next big announcement to come from the Speedworks Motorsport-run outfit, before the 2021 BTCC season gets underway at Thruxton on 8/9 May.

Ciceley Motorsport kicked off the BTCC testing season in rather unconventional circumstances at Donington Park last week, having recently acquired the ex-Carl Boardley BMW 1 Series.

The North West-based squad is switching to the ultra-successful BMW 3 Series for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and is keen to hit the ground running while waiting for its new cars to be delivered. Carrying many similar characteristics to its ‘big brother’, Ciceley are using the 1 Series to acclimatise ahead of the move to rear-wheel drive machinery.

Action got underway with regular pilot Adam Morgan completing 45 laps of the National Circuit in largely wet conditions during the morning session.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Morgan. “The track eventually dried, and I was able to go out on slicks. The track was green and there was a little bit of standing water, but I really enjoyed being out in RWD and immediately got used to the fundamental handling differences. I’m really looking to the next test at Snetterton.”

Following seat and control adjustments during the lunchtime break, Ciceley’s new signing – experienced race winner Tom Chilton – was next up to get a taste of the multiple title-winning BMW.

Chilton ran on Goodyear slick tyres all afternoon, despite freezing cold temperatures that also meant the track was unable to dry completely, as the Surrey man clocked up an encouraging 50 laps before the chequered flag fell.

As planned, engineer Steve Farrell made some adjustments to the car throughout the day and was able to gather significant data ahead of the team’s next outing at Snetterton this Thursday (28 January).

“Both drivers were very happy under the circumstances, both with the pace of the car and how they initially adapted to RWD,” confirmed Commercial Director Norman Burgess. “The entire team are very content with how the first test progressed. We are looking forward to getting the new BMW 3 Series and preparing it for pre-season testing, which will hopefully begin in early March.”

Following the announcement that Jade Edwards would complete BTC Racing's three-car line-up for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the Official BTCC website caught up with the 29-year-old to discuss achieving her dream of signing for a full season in Britain's elite motorsport series, as well as her expectations for the year to come.

Listen to the full interview below...