General News
01/Feb/2013
HowHARD. Fuller
Young gun Howard Fuller to drive VW Passat CC for Team HARD. in 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
Team HARD. owner Tony Gilham today (1 February) announced that Howard Fuller will return to his squad to drive one of the new VW Passat CC NGTC machines for at least a part-BTCC season.
Having recently confirmed that American racer Robb Holland will contest selected events in 2013, Gilham says Fuller is expected to race the same car in the remaining rounds. Fuller is currently working on raising the budget for a full season however, which Gilham says will prompt him to build a third Passat CC for Holland and one of four other drivers waiting in the wings.
Twenty year-old Fuller made his BTCC debut last season for Gilham as a reward for claiming a victory for the team in the VW Cup. Despite his young age and relative inexperience, Fuller went on to produce impressive performances in the elderly Honda Cicic at both Rockingham and Silverstone, and now he’s delighted to have secured a drive for 2013.
“It has all come together nicely, and it’s great to know that I’ll be on the grid,” he said. “It can be frustrating reading about everyone else’s plans while I’ve been busy trying to secure my own place. I’m just thankful to Tony for the opportunity and I can’t wait to work with him and the team again.
“To be bringing the VW Passat to the BTCC grid – along with Tom Onslow-Cole of course – is a great feeling. I am likely to be the youngest guy on the grid and the likes of Tom obviously have more experience than me, but I am confident in my own ability and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Team boss Gilham is also confident that Fuller has the credentials to perform at the highest level. “Howard is a very good driver,” he enthused. “He won for us in the VW Cup and the whole team loves him. We rewarded him with a BTCC drive at Rockingham last year and he did so well that we put him back in the car for Silverstone. I am sure he will do a great job for us.”
