Excelr8 Motorsport will step up to the British Touring Car Championship in 2019  after securing a deal to take over the running of the MG6 GT machines.

The Norfolk-based squad has purchased the MGs from the AMD Tuning team, together with the TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) required to run them in the full 2019 championship. Excelr8 has one driver confirmed for next season with an announcement to come in due course, while candidates are being assessed for the second MG.

The deal marks a new venture for Excelr8 Motorsport, which has been a leading power within the MINI CHALLENGE during recent years. As well as constructing over 75 of the high-powered CHALLENGE JCW race cars for both the UK and overseas markets, Excelr8 also fields multiple drivers across the three classes of the championship.

Team manager Oliver Shepherd says the deal to expand into the pinnacle of British saloon car racing is an exciting opportunity for the team.

“We’ve been looking towards the BTCC for a few years now and when we got the chance to get hold of the MG GTs it was an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up, especially as it fits with our ‘Great British’ theme.

“The BTCC is the highest-profile championship in the country, with some incredible drivers and very high-calibre teams, so we know we will have our work cut out to learn about the racing and the new cars. However, we have no doubt that we can compete at this level, and we’re currently working hard to finalise an exciting driver line up for 2019.

“This is a sizeable investment for Excelr8, and we’re acquiring all-new specialist equipment to make sure we have everything we need to hit the ground running next season and deliver the professionalism and presentation that we are known for in the MINI CHALLENGE”

The deal marks the start of a multi-year touring car programme for Excelr8, which will use the MGs to understand the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) platform, while also assessing potential opportunities with other suitable automotive brands for the future, with a focus on British marques.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow added: “It’s always great to see new teams joining the BTCC, and Excelr8 has certainly proven its capabilities and professionalism in the MINI CHALLENGE – a series which has already produced many current or recent BTCC drivers.

“Keeping the MG GTs on the grid is great news and ensures the BTCC retains a good diversity of manufacturers. I look forward to seeing how quickly Excelr8 and its new drivers can acclimatise to the BTCC and wish the team the best of luck ahead of next year.”

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was certainly a 60th anniversary season to remember with a record-breaking 17 different race winners over the course of 30 thrilling action-packed races. Let’s take a look back at some of the tyre statistics for the 2018 season:

BTCC victories by tyre
• 15 wins on Dunlop Sport Maxx Prime tyre
• 6 wins on the Option-Soft tyre
• 5 wins on Sport BluResponse wet tyre
• 4 wins on Option-Hard tyre

BTCC laps completed by tyre
• 15,758 laps completed in total
• 6,733 completed on Prime tyre
• 1,912 completed on Soft tyre
• 3,440 completed on Hard tyre
• 3,673 completed on Wet tyre

• 3,012 positions gained in total
• 1,459 positions gained on the prime tyre
• 444 positions gained on the soft tyre
• 511 positions gained on the hard tyre
• 508 positions gained on the wet tyre

Silverstone set the scene for two of the year’s memorable moments as Ash Sutton’s determined efforts to keep his BTCC title defence alive saw him overcome a lowly starting position by carving his way from 25th to 11th in race. It contributed to an overall #ForeverForward total of 29 places gained in a single weekend.

Meanwhile, Sam Tordoff’s pole position at Silverstone – the penultimate event of the season – consolidated his impressive 2018 qualifying average. The Motorbase Performance driver qualified an average of sixth position in the Ford Focus RS over the course of the year.

#ForeverForward – Most positions gained over a single race weekend (three races)
• Ash Sutton gained the most places – 29

Highest qualifying average position
• Sam Tordoff – 6.09 average starting position

Watch Tordoff's inch-perfect lap of Silverstone right here...

Team HARD manager Tony Gilham says his outfit will leave ‘no stone unturned’ in its quest to become a frontrunner in the British Touring Car Championship after confirming Bobby Thompson as its second driver of the 2019 season.

Making his BTCC debut this year after winning the Volkswagen Racing Cup title in 2017, Thompson showed progress over the course of the season at the wheel of the Volkswagen CC to earn a second year with Team HARD.

Thompson is the second driver to re-sign with the Kent-based team following confirmation in September that Mike Bushell will also remain with the four-strong driver line-up.

For Gilham, the decision to retain two of its drivers will do its part in providing continuity and allow the team to wholly focus on development ahead of the 2019 BTCC campaign.

“It was very important for us as a team to retain the two drivers that completed the full season in 2018,” he said. “Bobby and Mike are both very special talents and it was a priority for us to have them back with us for next season.

“We have improved massively as a team and with a full winter programme ahead of us, we feel that we will have a driver line-up to challenge for silverware come the start of the season.

“We have a whole host of changes and developments planned both with the cars and the personnel. We have already added a lot of quality to the engineering department and with the addition of some key members and procedures, the preparation and overall quality of the team will be far better than ever before.

“Both Bobby and Mike showed some amazing pace at times, so to have them both back and confirmed early gives us the best chance of hitting the ground running and improving in all the areas we have identified on and off track.”

With Team HARD set to confirm a third driver next Wednesday [7 November], Gilham believes this fresh approach will see his cars competing at the sharp end in 2019.

“We have high expectations for 2019 and know that we have a package to rival the top teams, so we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to be one of the front running outfits

“The last few years have been very eventful but 2019 we believe will see a fresh start and the real launch of Team HARD. as a team to be reckoned with.”

Bobby Thompson will take part in the 2019 BTCC season after signing a deal to remain with Team HARD for a second successive year.

The 2017 Volkswagen Racing Cup champion joined the BTCC with the Kent-based squad to race one of its VW CCs for his maiden campaign in 2018 and scored a best result of seventh place at Rockingham on his way to 17th in the Independents Trophy standings.

The Essex racer says that continuity with the team was important in his decision to remain with Tony Gilham’s team.

“I learned so much last year,” said the 22-year-old. “The first half of the year was a bit of an education in just getting used touring cars, but once we had that learning process done, I felt ready to move up. We had some good meetings, but I am coming in next year with so much more knowledge and I want to put that to good use. 

“Mike Bushell and I talked. He is very enthusiastic about our potential and between us, we have a strong direction to help the team move forward and I want to be part of that journey.

“We work well together and Mike has a lot of experience. My aim is to break into the top 10: and then, who knows what happens? This is the BTCC and you stand a chance from there. I just want to show the world what I am capable of.” 

Gilham’s Team Hard operation is also confident of securing a third driver by the end of next week.

Gilham said, “Bobby is a very special talent and one that can go to the very top. He has amazing natural ability and will shine in 2019.

“We had a mixed season this year in the BTCC but Bobby’s performances were noticed by many and the whole team are behind him as we aim to move up the grid together.”

Tickets for the MSV rounds of the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are now on sale. Admission and camping prices are frozen until the end of the year, so now is the perfect time to purchase. With Christmas approaching, BTCC tickets will make an ideal stocking filler!

Events on sale include the much anticipated BTCC season-opener at Brands Hatch to be held on 6-7 April, plus the all-important finale on 12-13 October to be held around the Grand Prix configuration of the iconic circuit.

BTCC tickets can also be purchased for Donington Park, Oulton Park and the Snetterton 300 venues, while a Season Pass gives you the option of attending all five.

Tickets can be posted in time for Christmas, or you can select our print-at-home option to avoid mailing costs.

Click on the links below for more information and to order tickets:

2019 British Touring Car Championship – MSV rounds
6 – 7 April Brands Hatch Indy – season opener
27 – 28 April Donington Park
29 – 30 July Oulton Park
3 – 4 July Snetterton 300 
12 – 13 October Brands Hatch GP – season finale

AmD Tuning has today confirmed an exciting new venture alongside long-time supporter Cobra Sport Exhausts that will see it enter a pair of Honda Civic Type Rs in the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship under the Cobra Sport AmD Racing banner.
 
In partnership with Cobra Sport Exhausts, the West Thurrock-based outfit has acquired the two cars that secured race wins and multiple podiums in recent seasons with the Eurotech team, as well as the TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) that are required to run them in the series.
 
The addition of the two Hondas means the team will continue to run a four-car programme in the series, having expanded twelve months ago when it took over the running of a pair of ex-works MG6 GTs alongside two Audi S3s.
 
The Hondas will take the place of the two MGs in the AmD line-up, with those cars set to move on to new owners in the coming months.
 
Having taken delivery last week, work is now underway preparing the cars for the start of pre-season testing.
 
Discussions with potential drivers and title sponsors are already underway, with further announcements to be made in due course.
 
“Last season, it was a big move for us to expand to a four-car team and after a successful 2018, we are again seeking to move forwards to the next level,” said AmD Team Principal Shaun Hollamby.
 
“Whilst we enjoyed some strong results on track with the MGs, the opportunity to purchase the ex-Eurotech Hondas was one that was too good to turn down as you only have to look at the stats to see what a strong package the FK2 Civic Type R is.
 
“Acquiring these cars provides us with a fantastic platform to really raise our game and fight consistently towards the sharp end of the grid, and we are already in discussions with drivers who we know are capable of helping us to achieve our goal.
 
“Without doubt, this is the most exciting development for us as a team since we joined the BTCC, and we have to thank Cobra Sport Exhausts for helping to make it possible. Together, I’m extremely confident about a successful 2019.”
 
As part of the expanded relationship, Cobra Sport Exhausts Managing Director Rachel Abbott will take on a joint team principal role alongside Hollamby during the season ahead.
 
“Cobra Sport Exhausts have been involved as title sponsors for a number of years now and our involvement in the management of certain aspects of the team has increased over this time,” she said. “We are very excited to be taking the next step as joint team owners with AmD Tuning in our new team, Cobra Sport AmD Racing.
 
“We are delighted to have purchased - with Shaun - the two Hondas and TBLs from Jeff Smith at Eurotech Racing. Jeff was a pleasure to deal with, and he and his team have done a tremendous job with the development of the cars over the last few seasons.
 
“Professional motorsport involvement runs in the family as my father drove the British Saloon Car Championship’s championship winning Team Broadspeed’s Ford Anglia in the 70s and 80s and was also a team owner of a Formula Ford 2000 race team.
 
“I am proud to be able to continue the family tradition and on a personal level, I am looking forward to working with Shaun as joint team principal on this new venture. Shaun has a wealth of knowledge in motorsport and he has built a great team of talented people who I have had the opportunity to get to know over the last few seasons.
 
“I am excited to see what we can achieve together in 2019 and beyond.”

The finalised livery in which the Cobra Sport AmD Racing Hondas will race will be revealed at a later date.

Dunlop, the Official Tyre Supplier to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, has once again provided an opportunity for champions from the MINI Challenge to test a race-winning touring car.

MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Champion Ant Whorton-Eales was the first to earn the test opportunity at Snetterton today, but for him it was a step into familiar territory – he took part in Dunlop’s annual prize test in 2016 after winning the Renault Clio Cup. This launched him into the BTCC, driving an AmD Tuning Audi S3 in 2017, before choosing to tackle the highly competitive MINI Challenge this year.

The Staffordshire racer relished his second Dunlop opportunity, saying: “It was great to test a proven winning car. Motorbase have come a long way in developing this car in the two years since my first test.”

Reflecting on his year in the MINI Challenge, Ant added: “It’s a definite stepping stone to the BTCC. A driver with touring car ambitions should definitely consider it.”  

He was joined at the test by MINI JCW runner-up, Nathan Harrison. Like Whorton-Eales, the Oxfordshire driver drove the Team Shredded Wheat with Gallagher Racing Ford Focus RS, and benefited from coaching from BTCC race winner Tom Chilton.

Harrison said: “This was an amazing day, thanks to Dunlop and Motorbase. It’s a great opportunity and I’m working hard on raising a budget to move up to BTCC. The grip and power of the car felt great and I feel that the MINI Challenge has been a good step towards preparing me for this.”

Each driver handled the Focus around the three mile Snetterton 300 circuit. Mickey Butler of Dunlop Motorsport stated:  “We are grateful to Motorbase Performance for giving our Dunlop Champions such a brilliant opportunity.

"Dunlop invest heavily in national level motorsport, and this year we showcased talent from the MINI Challenge, which has established itself as a genuine step on the ladder into the BTCC."

The two drivers used Dunlop’s Sport Maxx Prime tyre in the morning before switching to the Sport Maxx Option Soft for race distance runs in the afternoon.

“Adapting to the different tyres is a skill that top BTCC drivers need to have. It’s a curved ball we like to throw into the test programme so we can coach the drivers on optimising tyre performance.” added Butler.

Oly Collins, Team Manager, Shredded Wheat with Gallagher Racing, explained the importance of the test: “It was a varied day with two drivers of different experience levels.

"With Ant returning to the BTCC we trusted him to start his runs on cold tyres and bring them up to speed quickly. For Nathan, he had the opportunity to drive after Tom Chilton had brought the tyres and brakes up to temperature. He then progressed perfectly to get on to the pace very quickly. Both drivers didn’t over-drive the car and performed impressively.”    

Kyle Reid, also a prize-drive winner, will test the Focus in 2019 as he was unable to attend this session.

Trade Price Cars Racing will make the move into the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for the 2019 season with a two car team.
 
The award-winning Essex-based car dealer has agreed terms to purchase the two Audi S3s that were previously entered by AmD, along with its TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) required to compete in the series, with AmD continuing to run the cars as part of a two-year deal.
 
Trade Price Cars is no stranger to the BTCC paddock, having been involved in the series as a headline team sponsor during the 2018 season.
 
Managing Director Dan Kirby is also well known in motorsport circles from his own racing career, having secured multiple podium finishes whilst competing in a range of different championships.
 
That includes an entry in the BTCC-supporting Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup in 2017, as well as a guest drive in Porsche Carrera Cup GB at the 60^th BTCC Anniversary meeting at Snetterton earlier this year.
 
The driver line-upfor Trade Price Cars Racing will be announced in due course, with the two Audis undergoing a thorough rebuild in preparation for the start of testing ahead of the 2019 season.
 
“We dipped our toe in the water in 2018 as a sponsor, but we feel the time is right to take our involvement in the BTCC to the next level,” Kirby said.
 
“The deal with AmD is one that is extremely attractive and gives us greater control over the programme to really maximise our investment. It also provides us with more flexibility to boost our corporate identity, and to promote the Trade Price Cars name to a hugely captive audience.
 
“In terms of the car, the Audi is a package that works for us from a business perspective and the AmD team have done a great job in developing it in recent seasons.
 
“I’m confident that we can all work together to unlock more of the potential that is in the Audi during 2019, and are in discussions with drivers who can help move the cars forwards up the grid next year.”
 
AmD has been responsible for running the Audi since 2015 and has secured multiple points-scoring finishes in recent seasons – including a first podium finish at Brands Hatch earlier this year.
 
“This new partnership with Trade Price Cars is a very exciting one for AmD,” AmD Team Principal Shaun Hollamby said. “To have the opportunity to work alongside another successful local business is a one that makes perfect sense for us, and I feel that it gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on the progress we have made with the Audis in recent years to move forwards up the grid.
 
“We are looking forward to working with Dan and Trade Price Cars for the next two years and making a success of our new partnership both on and off track.”

Former BTCC and UK Clio Cup driver Andy Wilmot will take up the role of joint Team Principal alongside Hollamby with immediate effect, having joined the outfit from Matrix Motorsport.

“I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to form the team from the beginning," he said. "Working for Trade Price Cars during the week as a buyer, I understand the brand and corporate goals that the business is trying to achieve.

"We can now adopt that identity and let it breed into the race team. It’s a very exciting prospect.”

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is renowned for its ultra-close on-track battles, and perhaps the pick of those over the course of the season came as the 60th anniversary campaign drew to a close at Brands Hatch two weeks ago.

Starting third for the finale, Round 30, outgoing champion Ashley Sutton showed that 'once a champion, always a champion' as he embarked on a staggering race-long battle for the top step with Power Maxed TAG Racing's Josh Cook. 

The pair ran side-by-side for the majority of the contest, with the race lead changing hands on multiple occasions. Cook wouldn't be outdone, though, and the pair – who are good friends and former team-mates, fought on as they whittled away at the lap count.

The scrap went as far as the last few metres of the final lap of the season, with Sutton eventually pinching the honours and signing off as the 2017 BTCC champion in fine style as he pipped Cook by just 0.032 seconds over the line.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBTCC/videos/532400067223057/

That winning move put Sutton on 24 Dunlop #ForeverForward points in total to take the weekend honours for the third time in succession in 2018. Understandably, his manoeuvre was voted as the fans favourite overtake in Dunlop’s social media poll.

A look on-board, and it's obvious why!

Jump on-board with @ASuttonRacing and @cooksport during that duel... which unsurprisingly yielded @DunlopLive's #ForeverForward overtake of the race in the R30 finale back at @Brands_Hatch...

🎥 via @DunlopLive#BTCC pic.twitter.com/InjRIF2IMM

— BTCC (@BTCC) October 15, 2018

Preparations for the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship got underway in earnest earlier this week, right off the back of the 2018 season finale at Brands Hatch, with the championship's official tyre supplier, Dunlop, carrying out a bevvy of wet tyre tests.

West Surrey Racing/BMW and Team Dynamics/Honda were the two manufacturer outfits requested to attend the event at Rockingham Motor Speedway by Dunlop, who had bowsers on-site to artificially soak the track surface as it sought to evaluate 2019's Dunlop BluResponse wet tyres well in advance of the forthcoming campaign.

Colin Turkington was on hand, fresh from his 2018 Drivers' title triumph, driving the Team BMW 125i M Sport, while Andrew Jordan doubled up the BMW contingent in the BMW Pirtek Racing-liveried 1 Series. Halfords Yuasa Racing regulars Matt Neal and Dan Cammish piloted their current generation FK8 Honda Civic Type Rs to double up the data gathered.

Mickey Butler, Manager, UK and One Brand Motorsport Events, was pleased with proceedings, and more will follow on Dunlop's off-season programme in due course.

After the Brands Hatch finale, Butler spoke on a positive 2018 campaign for the tyre manufacturer and the championship at large.

“It’s been a fantastic end to a superb season. Brands Hatch GP is one of those circuits that is kind on tyres and I knew the Option tyre would be the better one which it proved to be, it does give you the edge and the drivers love it," said Butler.

"I think looking at every race this season, whether it’s been the Hard or Soft-Option tyres, it really mixed the races up. It makes drivers and teams think about the different strategies they’ve got to bring in to it. Overall I’m very pleased, but wait for the surprises to come in 2019!”