Ashley Sutton's maiden season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship would prove to be one to remember for the Essex-born racer, as he rounded off a strong campaign in fine style by winning the Jack Sears Trophy.

The MG RCIB Insurance man didn't take long to assert himself as a someone capable of challenging at the sharp end, despite his rookie status. After going well there in pre-season testing at Season Launch, Sutton scored pole at Donington Park – the season's second race weekend. A host of high points-scoring finishes showed it wasn't just over a lap where Sutton's capabilities shone. 

Come mid-season, at the end of the Croft weekend, he'd garnered a debut appearance on the steps of the rostrum and a thrilling race three from the North Yorkshire circuit, in changeable conditions,   yielded a popular first win for the MG driver – much to the delight of the both the Triple Eight squad and MG's contingent. 

As far as the 2015 Renault UK Clio Cup champion is concerned, 2016 will go down as a job well done in the BTCC.

“Things couldn’t have gone better for me this season,” said Sutton. “Some bad luck struck us mid-season and knocked us down the standings for the overall Drivers’ title but I have achieved everything I came here to do.

“People kept asking me at the start, ‘are all these big names intimidating?’ and my honest answer was always no, they are just stickers on windows. I was not going to treat the BTCC any differently to any other championship I had been in.

“I set myself some goals just before Season Launch – those being to secure my first pole positon, get my first podium, followed by my first outright win and then the last and final one, the Jack Sears Trophy.

“Those goals at the time may have been a little strong but I am pleased that we have achieved every single one of them.”

At the TOCA Night of Champions at the end of November, Sutton collected the Jack Sears Trophy, bearing the legendary name of inaugrual BTCC champion Jack Sears, in the year of the inaugural BTCC champion’s passing gave an extra gravitas to the achievement.

“Collecting silverware does show what you have achieved, but winning the Jack Sears Trophy on the year that ‘Gentleman Jack’ passed, with his son David presenting it to me made it an emotional experience as well as an unforgettable one.”

BROWN BROTHERS® Distribution has been selected, for a third year running, as an Official Partner to the Laser Tools Racing Team for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championships.

The Laser Tools Racing team was new to the BTCC in 2014, set up to support young driver Aiden Moffat. Aiden made BTCC history in 2013 as the youngest driver to ever start on the grid in a BTCC race. Following a successful season in 2016 and now aged 20 there are very high hopes for Aiden in 2017.  

Back in the Mercedes A-Class, Moffat is set to grow on last season’s results with the first race taking place on the 1^st April at Brands Hatch. “Touring cars is where we’re going to stay,” said Moffat. “It’s a fantastic championship and as a team we’re constantly improving.”

Brown Brothers are to continue their sponsorship with Aiden Moffat Racing and will see the Brown Brothers Distribution logo proudly displayed on the car bonnet and tailgate as well as the Laser Tools Racing team kit. Brown Brothers customers will also have the chance to join the team at the races during the 2017 season in first class hospitality.

Speaking to Aiden, he added; “I’ve really enjoyed my time in the BTCC so far and the podium at the end of the year was a reward for everyone involved. It’s great to be working with Brown Brothers again, they are both very professional and very supportive of us at Laser Tools Racing. To have a partner like them is a great thing going into the 2017 season.

“We’ve also improved our Mercedes a lot over the 2016 season and we’ve got a lot of development planned before the 2017 season starts”

Moffat, who enjoyed his best season yet in 2016, including a podium in the season finale at Brands Hatch, will compete with the new Swindon Engines TOCA engine in 2017.

Danielle Aiken PPG UK Marketing Manager said “Following a brilliant season last year, we are really pleased to be associated with such an ambitious and exciting team for a third year running. We are looking forward to seeing the Brown Brothers Distribution brand showcased in the British Touring Car Championship.  We wish both Aiden and the Laser Tools Racing team all the best for the 2017 season.”

The BTCC season commences on the 1^st April at Brand Hatch. Follow Brown Brothers on Twitter for updates @bbduk

Motorbase Performance today (Wednesday) confirmed it will compete under a new banner in the forthcoming Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season after securing a multi-year title sponsorship deal with leading breakfast cereal brand Nestlé Shredded Wheat.

“Motorbase Performance is extremely proud to be bringing such a well-known brand as Shredded Wheat to the British Touring Car Championship;” commented Team Principal David Bartrum. “Shredded Wheat is a household name and a healthy breakfast cereal that we’ve all grown up with and the BTCC package offers them a fantastic platform to reach their target audience.”

“Their faith in us and also the BTCC shows where the championship is in terms of stature and exposure and also how far we’ve come as a team;” continued Bartrum. “I’m very much looking forward to building a strong relationship with the Shredded Wheat brand. The standout on the car looks fantastic and it certainly won’t be missed on track.”

Toby Baker, Marketing Director UK & Australia added; “Nestlé Breakfast Cereals are delighted that Shredded Wheat will be sponsoring the Motorbase British Touring Car team for the 2017 Season. The Shredded Wheat brand is a catalyst for living life to the full and so it is fantastic that we are able to partner with a high adrenaline sport like the BTCC and with a proven winning team like Motorbase.”

“We look forward to seeing the distinctive yellow and red livery of Shredded Wheat - one of the UK’s most famous brands, comes to life on the UK’s favourite race tracks in 2017.”

The announcement comes off the back of the Kent-based squad’s most successful BTCC season to date in 2016 – securing both the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ Titles with Mat Jackson taking third in the drivers’ standings – just 16 points off the overall title. Fans’ favourite Jackson is also retained as the lead protagonist for the team’s assault on the 2017 title in the newly numbered #3 Ford Focus ST – marking the 35-year-old’s 8^th consecutive season in the Motorbase line-up.

“As reigning Independent Champions we’re looking forward to the challenge of defending our crown. We’re also very happy to announce that Mat will continue to spearhead our 2017 campaign;” added the Team Boss. “After having come so close to the overall drivers’ title last season, we also have our eyes on the overall prize. Mat’s pace is unquestionable and he has shown great consistency in recent years. He is a real asset to the team and the perfect brand ambassador for Shredded Wheat.”

In addition to its new title sponsorship, the reigning Independent Teams’ Championship squad has also retained a number of major partners for the 2017 season and beyond with the return of the IKO enertherm brand - part of global waterproofing and roofing manufacturer the IKO Group - and the UK’s leading online parts retailer, espares.

“It’s great to have IKO and espares back on-board for the seasons ahead and we hope to welcome further partners to the team in the coming weeks;” concluded Bartrum. “Today’s news coupled with the announcement that we will be expanding to a three-car team in 2017 means there are some very exciting times ahead.”

Motorbase Performance and its associate sponsors are set to roll-out a number of exciting initiatives during the 2017 season to enable fans to get even closer to what is already one of the most popular teams on the grid. The eye-catching Shredded Wheat livery and new-look driver line-up are set to be revealed to both trade and public at the Autosport Show on January 12-15 2017.

 

//ends//

The 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was one to remember for Motorbase Performance as it celebrated Independent Teams' as well as Independent Drivers' honours.

The Kent-based outfit sealed the deal on home soil at the Brands Hatch finale weekend – though the race was all but settled for both championships after Silverstone a fortnight prior.

Andrew Jordan edged Mat Jackson for the Independent Drivers' title, despite the latter claiming the team’s seventh win of the season, his 30th in the series, in the nail-biting season climax. This left Jackson just 16 points shy of champion Gordon Shedden in the overall standings.

It was undoubtedly Motorbase's most successful BTCC campaign to date, with an impressive tally of seven outright race wins, seven outright podiums, 15 Independent race wins and 21 Independent podiums between Jordan and Jackson in the Mountune-powered Ford Focus STs. Jackson also jointly-topped the table of most race wins this season with five to his name, having also led the most laps during 2016.

On the squad's maiden pair of trophies, Team Manager Oly Collins said: “It was such a great year for the whole team at Motorbase and we're proud to say we brought home two BTCC Championships.

“I’m incredibly proud of how well we did and it was all thanks to the guys and girls behind the team!”

Mat Jackson said: “When you come as close as we did to clinching the overall title you always look at the ones that got away and the missed opportunities but we can’t look back – it’s all about learning and moving forward.

"The car was on the money all year and the boys gave me one of the most reliable machines on the grid so we just need to build a little bit on our consistency and come back stronger for the fight next year.”

As confirmed in last week’s list of TBL holders for 2017, BTC Norlin Racing will join the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship grid next year with a brace of Chevrolet Cruze cars.

The Northern Ireland-based team has a multi-year deal with a leading hotel development company, Norlin, and has recruited Chris Smiley as its first driver. A second driver is due to be announced shortly.

BTC Racing entered the British Touring Car Championship in 2006 after a race-winning pedigree in some of Britain’s leading national racing series. It took a sabbatical in 2015, but has now purchased cars and two TOCA BTCC Licences from Power Maxed Racing to return to the top flight.

BTC Norlin Racing boss Bert Taylor said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Norlin and to get Chris on board is a real coup.

“I worked with Chris at Team HARD this season and saw first-hand what a talent he is. He is utterly focused on his career and is dedicated to winning, which is the same passion that we have as a team.

“We have expanded the backroom staff at BTC Norlin Racing and have brought in expertise. We have taken on staff that have worked with the likes of RML and Triple Eight, so we feel confident we can move forward.

“We have chosen to run with the Chevrolet initially because it is a car we know well, and we have run them before. In the longer term, our plan is to become a constructor in our own right, and that is the aim for 2018.”

The cars are currently being prepared at BTC Norlin Racing’s Bicester base. Smiley has already tested the first car at Donington Park.

The 24-year-old Carrickfergus racer will be returning to the championship in 2017, after a part-season this term at the wheel of a Toyota Avensis. He stopped the programme halfway through the year after a troubled start to the season.

The former Mini Challenge champion said: “For me, this is the start of my BTCC career. I didn’t really get enough running this year to learn anything, so I am beginning afresh. I will be able to properly attack the championship in 2017.

“I am grateful for the people who have stood by me – and the guys at Norlin have been so enthusiastic. They are family friends and we have been able to put together a team of highly talented people. I really can’t wait to get started.

“We want to be solidly in the top ten to start with and build from there. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be expecting podiums and strong results from reversed-grid races over the latter part of the year.”

Richard Irwin, the Chief Executive of Norlin, explained: “Our aim over the next two seasons will be to challenge for the Independents’ Trophy and we look forward to a very competitive 2017 season.

“We believe we have a strong team led by Bert Taylor, with an experienced technical team and an excellent first signing in Chris Smiley.

“It is difficult to describe the BTCC to anyone who has never been to a race. The races are high-speed, high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled and action-packed. The trackside crowds have been growing year-on-year at each circuit and there is a very loyal online following, coupled with strong ITV viewing figures.

“The BTCC is therefore an appropriate showcase for our Norlin brand along with a great day out for our corporate partners and fellow sponsors Propiteer.

“For years, Northern Ireland sportspeople and teams have been challenging the leaderboards at global level. Motor sport is no different and this is an exciting time for a new team from Northern Ireland to be entering the BTCC. We want to build a brand that our sponsors, team, country and sport are proud to be associated with.”

The Autosport International Show kick starts the New Year and BMR Racing and Subaru are delighted to announce their presence at the show. 

Europe’s largest motorsport show opens its doors 12th - 15th January 2017 at the NEC and BMR Racing and Subaru can be found at stand 6000 in Hall 6. Exhibits will include the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship-challenging BMR Subaru Levorg and its road going counterpart, as well as the 300PS Subaru WRX STI performance flagship, the BRZ sports coupe and BMR Academy’s Go Karts. 

Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the cars and grab the chance of winning an amazing one-off BMR prize package.

Team BMR and Subaru are offering one lucky BTCC follower, and their guest, the chance to join the team at the BTCC season opener at Brands Hatch on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd April 2017.  The massive prize bundle will include the following:

2 x VIP tickets for both Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April

2 x Full BMR English Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Tea, all prepared by our on-site chefs

2 x BMR VIP Lanyards

2 x Access passes to get behind the scenes during the qualifying session on Saturday afternoon

2 x Grid Walk passes to join Team BMR on the grid for the first round of 2017

2 x Access passes to the BMR Driver Q&A session

A meet and greet photo opportunity with the BMR drivers

A private BMR garage tour

If that wasn’t enough, also included, for the very first time, a private factory tour of the BMR Headquarters in Hertfordshire during the summer of 2017.

For your chance to win, visit us on Stand 6000 in Hall 6 and take a Subaru selfie, tag @TeamBMRBTCC and @SubaruUK on Twitter/@BMRRestartRacing and @OfficialSubaruUK using the hashtag #BMRSuperFan.

Andrew Jordan made it three Independents Trophies as he took 2016 Dunlop British Touring Car Championship Independent Drivers' honours after what was a solid year in the Motorbase Performance-backed Pirtek Racing Ford Focus.

Two wins and a couple more trips to the podium overall, with four Independents' wins and 14 more appearances on that rostrum over the course of the season was enough to secure the trophy, and keep Jordan in overall contention heading to the Brands Hatch finale weekend. 

His first victory of the season in race two at Thruxton was also first for the 2013 BTCC champion since Croft two years prior and was one to savour for the Midlander.

Having charged through from eighth on the grid in the opener in Hampshire to take third, a first podium with the Motorbase outfit, race two started equally well.

The Red Bull-backed racer shot off the line and into second past the Speedworks Toyota of Tom Ingram. His attentions were then turned onto hunting down Adam Morgan, leading out-front in the WIX Racing Mercedes.

With 56kg of ballast on-board, Jordan was content to bide his time and play the long-game – keeping pressure on Morgan while doing his utmost to preserve his tyres on what is a tricky circuit for rubber.

The move for the lead came on lap 11. Jordan was right with Morgan into Club following a good run through Church. Out of the final chicane, the Focus was able to out-drag the A Class over the start/finish and into the lead come Allard.

With just a lap to go, Jordan had enough despite a gaggle of cars in close company waiting to pounce. 

“It felt great to be back on the top step,” said Jordan. “I knew that when the time was right we’d get the win."

Motorbase Performance had the Independent Teams' title all but wrapped up following the Silverstone weekend and it was a straight fight between their driver pairing for the Independent Drivers' honours heading to Brands.

Jordan held a 34-point lead over Mat Jackson and as it transpired, that lead proved enough for the former to take the crown, despite a race one DNF – though in the end just three points separated the pair.

"This was my third Independents Title. To do it again and help Motorbase to win their first ever BTCC title is something that I'm really proud of," said Jordan.

"2016 was a good solid year for me. We had a couple of wins and we stepped back onto the podium. It was a bit up and down with the results and not as consistent as I would have liked, but on a whole I'm really happy with how the season went.  

"A lot of effort and hard work from everyone went into this past year – we had the pace but also maybe not had the run of luck that you definitely need to win the BTCC title.

"I had great fun in the team this year but we also backed that up with results that we can build on moving forward to next season."

The season as a whole, then, by his own admission, was not everything Jordan had wanted as he moves onto pastures new with West Surrey Racing for 2017. Despite the switch, there is no animosity on his part towards his 2016 team and their efforts.

"I genuinely loved my time with Motorbase this year and I made some good friends along the way," said the 27-year-old, who finished the season in eighth in the points table.

"It's a shame not to be carrying on but it's simply a commercial decision and there's nothing more sinister to it."

Jordan, following the announcement that he'd be switching to WSR next season on a multi-year deal said: “I’m incredibly excited about joining WSR, who have been one of the outstanding teams in the BTCC for the past 20 years.

"I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen of the way WSR operate and I am sure that we can be right at the sharp end throughout the 2017 season."

After testing the car in late November, Jordan added: "I’m really pleased with how it’s gone in testing so far with WSR and the BMW.

"From day one the car's has felt very user-friendly and it didn’t take me very long to feel at home – despite some changeable weather.

"You can really feel the level of engineering that’s gone into the 125i M Sport and that’s made things much easier to adapt to – especially as I’m also learning a rear-wheel-drive touring car after spending my entire BTCC race career with front-wheel-drive.

"It’s also been great to start working with the engineers and mechanics and start building relationships with everybody in the team.”

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship-winning K20C engine used in the Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R has been named Race Engine Design of the Year at the annual RACE TECH World Motorsport Symposium.

Under the skin, it’s basically the same turbocharged powerplant as you’ll find in a road-going production Honda Civic Type R – the 2.0-litre engine was developed for the BTCC by Neil Brown Engineering.

The use of this engine marked the first time an integrated exhaust management engine design has been devolved and raced – making the triumph in the Drivers’ Championship with three-time winner Gordon Shedden at the wheel all the more impressive.

Honda (UK) boss Philip Crossman said: “For one of our powerplants to be recognised for its performance and reliability in a race environment is a fantastic achievement.

“And triumphing after only one season of competing just goes to show the quality of what we produce and what Neil Brown can tweak. Here’s to more of the same!”

James Rodgers, Team Manager at Halfords Yuasa Racing, added: “The engine has been absolutely outstanding this season – it is a given that the team at Neil Brown Engineering can produce both race and championship winning engines – but to be recognised by the industry as the best race engine design is phenomenal in its first year.”

RACE TECH featured the unit in its most recent issue – in shops – analysing in great depth just how the BTCC was won this year with the K20C.

Here’s an excerpt: 

In many respects the K20C is a leap forward, with turbocharging and direct injection already designed into the production unit.

It’s an engine that suits the role of a high performance road car very well, but some of its design features proved to be more of
a challenge when adapting it to be a race engine. Chief among these is the integrated exhaust manifold, which is designed primarily to reduce emissions on the road car.

In essence it eliminates the traditional exhaust manifold, instead integrating the exhaust primaries into one outlet before they leave the cylinder head.

For a road car, this minimises the distance before they reach the catalytic converter and hence reduces heat loss. This means the catalyst takes less time to get up to operating temperature, reducing cold start emissions. It also generally has the effect of simplifying the exhaust design, saving weight and reducing costs; all of which are win-win for a production engine.

For a race engine things aren’t quite so straightforward. Keeping the exhaust energy up is good news for the turbocharger, but it puts more heat into the water jacket, which then needs to be dissipated. It
also creates issues for the exhaust tuning, because the length and diameter of each pipe is effectively set in stone (or at least cast in aluminium). Plus, almost by definition, packaging four exhaust tracts into one across a short space leads to very uneven primary lengths. 

…

“An awful lot of the work on this engine stems from the fixed geometry of that exhaust,” explains Neil Brown Engineering Managing Director, Neil Brown. “We carried out a lot of 1D simulation using GT Power to get the breathing right. Some of the parameters
we didn’t have at the time, but we used as much as we could from the previous engine and experience. In the end it turned out we were very close.”

This is the first time the company has used simulation so extensively on a project and it’s really come into its own, comments Brown: “We were able to reach solutions a lot quicker than we would have done traditionally.”

Team JCT600 with GardX rounded off what was a strong season all-round, clinching the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Teams' title.

The West Surrey Racing backed squad long held the championship lead ahead of closest rivals Halfords Yuasa Racing, with Sam Tordoff following suit in his lead of the Drivers' standings.

Both Tordoff and team-mate Rob Collard went to the Brands Hatch finale weekend in with a chance of Drivers' honours on top of both Manufacturers'/Constructors and Teams' titles but it wasn't to be – two out of three would have to do.

“While I was obviously gutted to lead the championship for most of the season and then miss out on the Drivers’ title by two points..." said Tordoff.

"I’m still incredibly proud of myself, of the job done by everyone at WSR and the support we had from BMW, JCT600 and GardX all season.

"We finished up as Constructors’ and Teams’ champions and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for much more."

Collard added: “Two out of three isn’t bad and I’m very proud to have been a part of a team that’s won the Teams’ and Constructors’ titles this year."

The HiQ Teams' Trophy made it two honours for WSR, in no small part down to the efforts of Team JCT600 with GardX pair Tordoff and Collard throughout 2016 – a fine way to celebrate the Manufacturer's 20th anniversary in the BTCC.

Team Principal Dick Bennetts said of a successful campaign for his charges: “I’m really happy for everyone at WSR that we're celebrating the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title and have to say a big thank you JCT600, GardX, IHG® Rewards Club and BMW UK for the support they gave us this past year on our way to the Teams’ title.” 

“Motor racing is a real team effort and it was a deserving reward for a fantastic group of people. Sam raised his level considerably this year, despite unfortunately not managing to clinch the Drivers' title and so did Rob. We’re determined to bounce back even stronger in 2017."

Power Maxed Racing has announced its first driver for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with young talent Senna Proctor set to pilot one of the manufacturer outfit’s new Vauxhall Astras.

Senna has enjoyed a very strong racing career to date, coming through the TOCA package from Ginetta Juniors when in 2015 he took four race victories and 13 out of 20 podiums – more than any other driver. In 2016, Proctor moved to the highly competitive UK Clio Cup, taking a brace of podiums and finishing third in the Graduate Cup.

Now preparing to step up again, the 18-year-old from Bridlington, East Yorkshire is set to become one of the youngest manufacturer drivers in the BTCC's history, and he has his sights firmly fixed on the Jack Sears Trophy in his rookie campaign.

“The realisation that I will be lining up on the BTCC grid has not sunk in yet, let alone that I will be racing for a manufacturer,” he said. “For that manufacturer to be Vauxhall is almost too good to be true. I really cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra to perfect my craft in the top flight of British motor sport.

“This move has probably come a year earlier than planned, but when you are offered an opportunity like this then of course you don’t turn it down. I know I will have to work very hard to gain the respect of my fellow competitors, some of whom are the best touring car drivers in the world.

“I am under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead and will approach it with the seriousness it deserves. I have always admired what Power Maxed Racing have achieved, and their technical skill and teamwork fill me with confidence that this will be a long and fruitful partnership.”

Proctor is the first of two drivers to be recruited by Warwickshire-based Power Maxed Racing as the squad gets set to tackle its maiden season as a manufacturer in the UK's premier motor sport series. 

“I’m so excited to have Senna on-board,” commented Power Maxed Racing Team Principal Adam Weaver. “He caught my attention back in 2015 in Ginetta Juniors. I was impressed by how he excelled against very tough competition, and it’s great to be helping him to realise both his dream and his potential of racing in the BTCC.

“It's fantastic to once again be supporting and developing young talent, as we did with Josh Cook in 2015. I think Senna will cope with the added pressure this drive brings as he seems to have a very old head on young shoulders. In Senna, I think we have signed a driver who we can build a long-term relationship with and turn into a future champion.

“Senna will inject a healthy dose of youth and enthusiasm into the team, and I’m sure both he and our other driver – who will be a more experienced, household name – will keep each other on their toes and continually spur each other on.”