EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars has today (15 January) confirmed that it will retain the services of race-winner Chris Smiley for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The Northern Irishman joined forces with EXCELR8 ahead of the 2020 season, as the team embarked on its exciting programme with the Hyundai i30 N Fastback, and played a key role in the development of the new car across the course of the campaign.

Despite limited testing opportunities due to the ongoing pandemic, Smiley produced an impressive performance during Donington Park’s season opener last year, driving the Hyundai to a podium finish on its first weekend in the series.

The result was also the team’s first top-three finish in Britain’s premier racing series and showed the undoubted potential of the Hyundai package.

From there, Smiley would be a model of consistency across the nine-event campaign, scoring points at every meeting and completing all but three of the 489 racing laps; the equal-best record of any driver on the grid.

That finishing record was made all the more impressive given the fact that the season ran across a compact period between August and November, and that the Hyundai – developed and built in-house by Suffolk-based EXCELR8 – was competing in the series for the first time.

Smiley went on to finish the season 14th in the overall standings and ninth in the Independents’ Trophy, whilst he also played a vital role in the squad breaking into the top ten in the Teams’ Championship.

The new deal means that Smiley heads into the upcoming season with an unchanged package underneath him for the first time in his BTCC career, as the 28-year-old looks to make the most of the knowledge and experience gained in 2020 to regularly fight towards the sharp end of the grid.

"It’s fantastic to be able to confirm that I am staying with EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars for another season, and it’s great that the team has put its faith in me once again,” said Smiley. “This is the first time that I will be going into a second year with an unchanged package since I joined the touring car grid, and that consistency can only be a good thing.

"Last year was a real challenge for us with a new car because the pandemic meant we couldn’t go out and do as much testing as we wanted to do. Despite that, we showed the potential of the Hyundai, secured a podium finish and were regularly fighting in the points, and I’m feeling positive about what we can achieve this season with everything we were able to learn in 2020.

"With the winter development programme that the team has in place, and the fact that we will now have four cars to share data between, I’m hopeful that we can push for more silverware and fight for race wins during 2021, which has to be the ultimate goal.

"We know there is still more to unlock from the Hyundai, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to get the maximum possible from it during the upcoming season."

"We’re delighted to confirm that Chris will be staying with us for 2021 as he has quickly become an important member of the team,” added Team Owner Justina Williams. “I’ve known him a long time from when he raced against us in the MINI Challenge, and he has been a great driver to work with over the last twelve months; his work ethic both on and off-track is fantastic.

"As a driver, he is someone who you know will never give up, and he played an important role in helping us to develop the new car last season. The situation we found ourselves in, with not being able to go and test, meant that wasn’t always easy, but he was always keen to work with the engineering team to explore what we needed to do to get the most from the car, and was willing to try different things to see what worked, and what didn’t. That was reflected in some of the results we achieved in the first year for the car, and has given us a good base to now build on.

"The fact that Chris has experience with the Hyundai already can only be a good thing as we look to take the next step forwards in 2021. I have no doubt at all that he is a driver who can go out there and fight for race wins, as he has done in the past."

Smiley becomes the second driver to be confirmed with the squad for the 2021 season following the earlier signing of second-year touring car driver Jack Butel.

The final drivers of the team’s expanded four-car line-up for the new campaign will be announced in due course.

Series Organiser, TOCA, has today (14 January) issued a revised calendar for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

In order to maximise the opportunity for spectators and guests to attend our events, it has been decided to shift the start of the campaign back by five weeks.

The revised schedule will now start at Thruxton on 8/9 May, kicking off the full ten-event, 30-race season.

Snetterton follows the season opener, before Brands Hatch Indy hosts the third event of the calendar, while late July and August will see the series head north to Oulton Park and Knockhill before Thruxton's second event of the year.

Back-to-back weekends at Croft and Silverstone in September precede the penultimate race weekend of the season, at Donington Park.

Brands Hatch’s legendary Grand Prix configuration will hold the Season Finale – as initially planned – on the slightly later date of 23/24 October.

2021 British Touring Car Championship Calendar - Revised dates

Rounds	Date	Venue/Circuit
1,2,3	8/9 May	Thruxton
4,5,6	15/16 May	Snetterton (300)
7,8,9	12/13 June	Brands Hatch (Indy)
10,11,12	31 July/1 August	Oulton Park (Island)
13,14,15	14/15 August	Knockhill
16,17,18	28/29 August	Thruxton
19,20,21	18/19 September	Croft
22,23,24	25/26 September	Silverstone (National)
25,26,27	9/10 October	Donington Park (National)
28,29,30	23/24 October	Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)

Jade Edwards, one of the country’s top female racing drivers, will contest her first full season in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, after BTC Racing today (14 January) announced the 29-year-old has signed a ‘dream’ deal to complete the Brackley squad’s capacity three-car entry.

Marking a huge moment in her career, Northampton-based Edwards will team up with Josh Cook and Michael Crees at BTC Racing and, in so doing, will become the first female driver to embark upon a full campaign in the UK’s elite motorsport series since 2007.

Last year, Edwards made headlines with her well-documented debut in the BTCC during a one-off outing at Silverstone. Achieving two finishes from the three races, she is now determined to maximise the opportunity with BTC Racing in one of the team’s Honda Civic Type R FK8s.

Very much from a racing dynasty, following in the wheel tracks of her father Jim Edwards Jnr – a class race-winner in the BTCC – and grandfather Jim Edwards Snr, Jade previously competed in the Renault UK Clio Cup where she placed seventh overall in 2019 and took a best race finish of fourth.

During her car racing career so far, which began when Edwards contested Ginetta Juniors in 2006, she has participated in the British GT Championship in 2014 and 2015, piloting a Ginetta G55 GT4 and Aston Martin Vantage GT4 respectively, and also raced in the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge.

“To complete our 2021 driver line-up so early in the year is wonderful news for the team; we can now prepare as one for the new BTCC season," said Team Owner and Team Principal, Steve Dudman. "I am absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to put a deal together with Jade for her to race her first full season in the series. She deserves this opportunity and BTC Racing will endeavour to support her in every way possible. I know Jade will make the absolute most of it.

“We certainly have high hopes for what Jade can achieve this season with BTC Racing, especially after seeing her do such a professional job both in and out of the car on her BTCC debut last year. She’s a racer through-and-through and knows how to get stuck in, which is what touring car racing is all about. I firmly believe we have one of the most exciting and equally-balanced entries on the grid with Jade alongside Josh and Michael. We just cannot wait for the season to begin.”

“For anyone who watched my debut BTCC weekend last year, they will know this is something I have worked very hard on for a long time," added Edwards. "The plan for that one weekend was always to make it onto the grid full-time. I have worked with the BTCC and BTC Racing over the last year, giving my support and being a real advocate for the team.

“Over the winter, Steve [Dudman] has been a man of his word, very loyal and trustworthy, and gave me this amazing opportunity – it really is what dreams are made off. It’s been my dream to race in touring cars properly, not just a one-off. Steve and all the team at BTC have made this happen and I am so grateful to them all for the support. I really cannot tell you how excited I am about the season ahead.”

The opening rounds of the 30-race Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season are scheduled to take place over the weekend of 3/4 April at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Ciceley Motorsport is delighted to announce BTCC stalwart Tom Chilton will be manning one of the squad’s BMW 330i M Sports for an assault on the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.  

Surrey-driver Chilton brings a wealth of experience and technical ability to the team, having debuted in the BTCC back in 2002. Despite a four-year foray into the World Touring Car Championship from 2012-2016, Chilton returned to the BTCC in 2016, and has gone on to enjoy much success since. 

“I’m really looking forward to joining Ciceley Motorsport in their new era,” said Chilton. “They are a great team, and the BMW will be ultra-competitive.  Adam [Morgan] and I get along really well and we will work as hard as required with team engineer Steve Farrell to ensure we’re at the front of the pack straight away. I’ve made no secret of my desire to change my lucky racing number 3 into the coveted number 1 and truly believe that the team and will provide me with the platform required to achieve my aim.” 

“We have genuinely never been so excited going into a race season,” said Team owner Russell Morgan. “I have only ever been racing because I enjoy it, it’s something that I have always done, but we have made massive investment into the team this year and need results. Therefore, it was of the utmost importance that we secured a driver who brings experience, technical ability and is able to move us forward as a team. Tom is the perfect fit for Ciceley Motorsport, both he and Adam should be fighting at the front from the get-go”  

“Tom Chilton is a great addition to the team and I’m excited to see Tom and Adam working together this season,” concluded Peter Schofield Chairman of Ciceley Motorsports title sponsors Tetrosyl Ltd. “This is our second year as team title sponsors alongside Ciceley Motorsport and with the experience and quality of both drivers and the introduction of our new BMWs we have everything we need for success.” 

The team has a hectic testing schedule arranged, both Adam and Tom will be ready to begin their assault on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, when the action kicks off on the 3/4 April at Brands Hatch. As always, all race weekends will be televised, live and free on ITV4 during the season.        

In addition to fighting for Drivers’ glory, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK will unleash its first genuine assault on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Manufacturers’ and Teams’ crowns in 2021, following the acquisition of a second TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) by Speedworks Motorsport from another team.
 
Having made its BTCC debut in 2011, Cheshire-based Speedworks has run as a single-car entry in the UK’s premier motor racing series since 2014, going on a giant-killing spree with its trusty Toyota Avensis – a stellar effort that yielded nine victories, 17 rostrum finishes and back-to-back Independent Teams’ titles in 2017 and 2018 – prior to gaining official Manufacturer status.
 
That paved the way to a further seven race wins, 15 podiums, two pole positions and five fastest laps with the potent new Toyota Corolla in 2019 and 2020 – on each occasion, entering the final weekend of the season still in contention for overall Drivers’ honours.
 
Now, for the first time, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK is primed to do battle for all three trophies – Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ – in what is commonly regarded as the world’s toughest and most fiercely-disputed tin-top series, with two Corollas set to join the grid for the forthcoming campaign.
 
Both will sport the instantly recognisable Toyota Gazoo Racing corporate colours – in-line with the Japanese carmaker’s global motorsport activities – with the driver line-up to be announced in due course. The 2021 BTCC campaign will get underway at Brands Hatch in Kent on 3/4 April.
 
“It’s fantastic to be able to confirm our expansion to two cars this year," said Team Principal Christian Dick. "It’s a step we have been targeting for a while, and something we knew needed to happen if we were to have a real shot at winning the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ championships in a series as ultra-competitive as the BTCC. It’s tremendously motivating for everybody involved.
 
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a single-car entrant over the past seven years – outperforming and outscoring many teams running two or more cars, which is quite a feat – and I cannot wait to see what we can now accomplish with a second Corolla in the garage. We had arguably the fastest car in the field towards the end of last season, and we are confident of unlocking even more pace from it between now and Brands Hatch.
 
“Whilst we’re under no illusions about the size of the challenge ahead, we’ve proved we are more than capable of running two cars before, the Speedworks guys and girls are the best in the pit-lane and we have a dynamic new driver line-up that will be unveiled soon, representing an exciting blend of youth and experience. We are immensely grateful to Toyota UK for their ongoing support, and we fully intend to repay that through our on-track performance and results over the coming months.”
 
“Speedworks has long proved to be amongst the best BTCC  teams, but has been fighting with one hand tied behind its back," added Scott Brownlee, General Manager, Press Relations & Social Media for Toyota in the UK. "The step-up to a full, two-car team will allow them to take the battle to the other Manufacturer teams with both hands. 
 
“Speedworks is a very good fit with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, as evidenced by the team’s British GT programme with the GR Supra GT4. We look forward to the 2021 season taking both Speedworks and Toyota Gazoo Racing UK to the next level.”

Following the entry approval deadline, Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship organiser TOCA has today (12 January) advised that all 29 entries – the maximum number of TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) held by teams – are confirmed for the 2021 season.

Teams must hold a TBL for each car entered – there are 29 TBLs held by teams, with three retained by TOCA. In keeping with its previously stated policy of wishing to gradually reduce the size of the BTCC grid, TOCA has again chosen not to allocate any of its TBLs to either existing teams or new entrants.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Although we are all going through this most incredibly gruelling period, it’s enormous testament to the strength and popularity of the BTCC that we have a full entry. Even more remarkable is the fact that a third of the grid will be new-build cars that have been constructed in the off-season. All of which means that we have yet another fabulous, and even more unpredictable, season in store.”

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks, prior to the release of the finalised entry list, which will be published by TOCA in March.
                   
Confirmed entries for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are as follows:

TEAM	TBLs
BMR Racing	1
Boardley Motorsport	2
BTC Racing	3
Ciceley Motorsport	2
Excelr8 Motorsport	2
Aiden Moffat Racing	1
Motorbase Performance	4
Power Maxed Racing	2
Speedworks Motorsport	2
Team Dynamics	2
Team HARD	3
Trade Price Cars Racing	2
West Surrey Racing	3

Supporters of the UK’s biggest motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – are being given the opportunity to take part in its most comprehensive fan survey ever.

The survey can be accessed below, and will also be promoted via BTCC official media channels as well as a number of stakeholders, sponsors, teams and drivers media platforms, with supporters able to have their say on subjects such as:

• Race weekend experience
• Television broadcasts
• Media platforms
• Sponsorship
• Road cars
• Environment and sustainability
• Computer games/Esports
• Leisure and lifestyle
• Sports interests
• Many more

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The BTCC’s relationship with its fanbase is unrivalled throughout motorsport and much of the sporting world, which is something we are not only extremely proud of, but remains a core principle of the series moving forward.

“So, today we are launching our most significant and wide-ranging survey ever, ensuring that our fans continue to play an integral role in the future of the championship.”

Click here to take part in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship survey. Those who take time to complete the survey will also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of 10x pairs of tickets to your favourite BTCC event.

AP Racing, the world-renowned brake and clutch supplier, has been chosen by TOCA and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) to supply critical performance components for a further six years. Through to 2026, all racecars on the BTCC grid will feature an AP Racing Radi-CAL brake package, pedal box, air jacks and high-performance carbon clutch.

One of the oldest established motor racing series in the world, the BTCC’s legacy is eclipsed only by Formula One and NASCAR. A beloved icon of UK motorsport and motorsport culture, the BTCC has continued to thrill fans since its inception in 1958. The series is going from strength to strength, as it makes history with its transition to the use of hybrid power, with the new system due to come into effect in 2022.

Now operating under the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) regulations introduced in 2011, AP Racing’s performance products are more important than ever before. With 2.0-litre turbocharged engines outputting more than 350 brake horsepower, the blistering pace of modern BTCC cars means that high-performance brakes and clutches are critical for safe and successful racing.

The new AP Racing contract extension includes the supply of brake calipers, brake discs, carbon clutches, pedal boxes, master cylinders, slave cylinders and air jacks to all BTCC racecars. It is the continuation of a relationship that stretches back to 2002 when AP Racing was first chosen to be the BTCC’s single source of brake and clutch components.

David Hamblin, Managing Director at AP Racing, commented: “We are thrilled that TOCA and the BTCC have chosen to continue working with AP Racing as the official brake and clutch supplier for another six years. The BTCC is a cornerstone of British motorsport and to be such an integral part of each and every car means a lot to our business, but also to us as individuals. We are proud of what we have achieved together over the last 18 years and are excited to see where the relationship takes us.”

TOCA, the organisation behind the BTCC, has been a long-time supporter of British motorsport businesses. Peter Riches, Technical Director at TOCA, added: “The BTCC is an important part of UK motorsport and, as best we can, we like to support British engineering, innovation and manufacturing. Conveniently for us, AP Racing is also at the international forefront of brake and clutch design and production. Covering everything from Formula One to high-performance road cars, its systems are trusted by everyone.

“With a well-deserved reputation that has been earned at the pinnacle of motorsport on tracks across the globe, we are extremely pleased that AP Racing will continue to equip our BTCC teams. With incredible stopping power and robust race clutches, we know that our drivers have what they need for the next six years of wheel-to-wheel action.”

For more information on AP Racing visit www.apracing.com

Following BTC Racing’s New Years’ Eve announcement that drivers Josh Cook and Michael Crees would be continuing with the squad for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the Official BTCC website caught up with the pair to find out their expectations for the upcoming campaign.

Listen to both interviews below...

A new chapter awaits Motorbase Performance in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, following today’s (7 January) announcement of the formal acquisition of the Kent-based squad by AmD Tuning Managing Director, Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne.

The resulting change in management sees long-time Team Principal, David Bartrum, step aside after a tremendously successful period leading the organisation’s on-track operation for nearly two decades.

Founded in 2004, Motorbase has enjoyed widespread success in the BTCC, British GT – taking the championship title in 2012 – and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. It has claimed 109 podiums in the BTCC since joining the grid in 2006, clinching the 2016 Independent Teams’ crown and finishing as Independents’ runner-up in 2020.   

The squad will continue to run under the Motorbase Performance banner with its core operational staff, including experienced Team Manager Oly Collins alongside AmD’s Technical Director Rob Tickner, and will still operate out of its workshop in Wrotham, Kent.

Inbound Team Principal, Hollamby and Managing Director, Osborne, are incredibly excited to be building on this success moving forward, having already forged a winning partnership in 2020 within the BTCC at MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square.

Hollamby, who has driven forward the successful AmD Tuning operation within Britain’s elite motorsport series over the past decade, took to the track himself in 2010 and sporadically in 2011 and 2013, and his efforts have since centred on building one of the series’ most respected Independent entries. Enjoying continued growth over the last decade, this success was highlighted by the team securing the Independent Teams’ Championship in 2019 and supporting Rory Butcher in claiming the Independent Drivers’ title and Jack Sears Trophy in the same year.

A racer in his own right, Osborne has been a familiar face within the British motorsport community for a number of years, initiating from his own participation in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and most recently through his support of his son, Sam, in his transition into the BTCC in 2019.

The new management team will build upon the excellent work of Motorbase Performance in 2020, following the squad’s hugely successful build and introduction of the fourth-generation Ford Focus ST. Taking five race wins, eleven podiums and two pole positions across the latest campaign, hopes are high heading into the forthcoming season.

“For me personally, this is closing one chapter in my involvement with the BTCC as well as starting a new one,” reflected Hollamby. “We had some great times as AmD Tuning in this amazing championship and I want to thank everybody involved through all those years. Every season, we have grown in stature and that has led us to what we are able to do today.

“Motorbase Performance is synonymous with everything that is great about the BTCC and a huge deal of credit must go to David [Bartrum] and his team for what they have achieved. Their work gives us a great foundation to build on, as we hope to go from strength-to-strength over the coming years. With myself and Pete coming together, I feel we have a really unique offering that can help us push on and set a new standard both on and off the track.”

“Motorsport has been a huge passion throughout my life and my involvement with the TOCA package and the BTCC has increased in recent years through Sam’s participation,” added Osborne. “The opportunity to build on David’s fantastic work at Motorbase Performance in partnership with Shaun is something I am motivated by.

“Last year, we forged a very successful partnership in the most difficult season British motorsport has arguably ever faced. To be able to take that work to a new level, combining the incredible expertise that Motorbase and AmD already have operationally is a really exciting opportunity.”

“It is a massive compliment to the entire team that Shaun and Pete wish to purchase the team and add to it, to push Motorbase to the next level,” concluded Bartrum, who founded Motorbase Performance.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed building this team from the ground up over the years and seeing it achieve tremendous success both on and off the track. I have to thank everyone associated with Motorbase over the years, including staff, drivers and our many partners, who have helped this team grow to become one of the top outfits in the BTCC paddock.

“I have a big birthday coming up next year and with that in mind, I think the time is right for Shaun and Pete to take over the reins and guide the team into a bright future.

“I wish the team all the best and good luck for the future. I won’t be too far away and will be watching Motorbase march on from the sidelines.” 

Further announcements regarding the team's driver line-up will be made in due course.