Race winner Stephen Jelley will return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this season, driving a Team Parker Racing Ford Focus ST after a seven-year sabbatical.

The Leicester driver contested two seasons of the BTCC in a WSR BMW 320si in 2008 and 2009, and took two victories, both at Rockingham.

Since then, Jelley has competed in GTs and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Jelley drove for Stuart Parker’s team in the Porsche contest last year and was fifth in the standings.

He will return to the tin-top top flight in the car previously used by Alex Martin.

Jelley said: “It was always my aim to come back to the BTCC – I didn’t want to leave, but the finances weren’t there.

“Team Parker Racing can have a long future in this category and I want a long future here too, so we are looking to build together. I haven’t raced a front-wheel-drive car before so there will be a big test programme ahead of the season to get me up to speed.

“As for my aims, I will wait to see where we are after the opening sessions before we can make a realistic assessment. We are just going to focus on our own performance first and foremost.”

Team boss Stuart Parker said: “We are thrilled to have Stephen with us – he has driven for the team for four seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup in his career and he is part of the fixtures and fittings at the squad.

“We have had two great years with Alex, who was learning all the time. Stephen is a proven race winner at this level and, although he will be getting to grips with front-wheel-drive for the first time, he can help us move forward.

“If we can be challenging inside the top ten, and then who knows what can happen with the reverse-grid draw. This will be an exciting year for us.”

BRDC Rising Star Jake Hill will race a Team HARD-entered VW Passat CC in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the Kent-based racer targeting regular points finishes, and to build on his impressive 2016 campaign.

Hill made a strong impression on fans, media and his fellow competitors, taking his Toyota Avensis into the top ten on seven occasions with a best result of fifth place at Silverstone, and is excited at the prospect of putting his first years’ experience to good use.

"It’s fantastic to know I will be back with the team and continuing my journey with them," said the 22-year-old. "I am hugely grateful to Tony (Gilham), RCIB Insurance, AutoAid Breakdown and TAG Industries for working to get me back on board for this season, and equally have some incredible support from Sportif Motor Group, Brisky Racing and are delighted to welcome our new partners Rolec Electrical and Mechanical Services. 

"Last season I learned a huge amount and felt we made some strong progress. We worked really well as a team, and it’s really significant having continuity with the crew and the partners. It’s great to be racing the Passat CC, with the latest RML equipment, as I think it will be strong at lots of circuits. The aim is to get points regularly, try and qualify well and be in the mix at every event. We are all hugely ambitious, and both Mike (Epps) and Will (Burns) will be quick so I’m sure we will all push each other hard all season." 

Hill hopes to be testing the revitalised Passat soon and has his focus on arriving at the Season Launch in Donington Park on March 16th in the best possible shape for 2017.

"I am working hard to make sure I am ready, and we aim to get to Donington in March in great shape and hopefully competitive from the outset," he concluded. "It’s going to be really tough and unpredictable but this year I have 30 races under my belt and that counts for a lot. It’s my birthday next month but I feel I have got a pretty special early present! Can’t wait!"

"Jake was really strong last year and got the absolute maximum from the car," said Team Principal Tony Gilham. "The team worked really well with him and with the new cars I’m confident all three of our drivers will be in the mix. All of our partners are delighted to have Jake back to continue the progress with us." 

Look out for some new and exciting initiatives to come from Jake and Team HARD. throughout the season, including the opportunity to drive the NGTC Toyota Avensis as driven by Jake in the 2016 BTCC Championship in full race trim.

With just 50 days to go until the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is kick-started at the annual Donington Park Season Launch, pieces of the jigsaw are being put into place as teams and drivers finalise their programmes for the campaign ahead.

As is always the case, it's been a packed off-season so far with announcements and unveilings aplenty – Motorbase Performance and Andrew Jordan's parting of ways back in late October set the wheels in motion.

It was an amicable parting of ways with both parties coming to an arrangement by mutual consent. Jordan had enjoyed a successful stint in the Ford Focus, with two outright wins and a trio of podiums on his way to securing a third Independent Drivers' title.

Into November, and some familiar machines returned to Team HARD's workshops – three Volkswagen CC's. The Kent-based squad originally built, prepared and ran the cars in the BTCC back in 2013.

Team Principal, Tony Gilham, was delighted to be re-united with the cars and believes they’ll be a force to be reckoned with after a planned upgrade to RML specification.

“Bringing the VWs to the BTCC was our brainchild back in 2011, so it feels like we have some unfinished business with them,” he said. “It was a good car out of the box then and was still winning races last season with the older kit onboard. Now we plan to update all three VWs to the RML-spec over the winter and believe we’ll have a really strong package."

In further news, Gilham announced that Will Burns would be a new member of his outfit for the forthcoming campaign. The 2016 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup runner-up making the step up to the BTCC following perhaps the most successful of five seasons in the single-make Ginetta competition. 

Midway through November, and Aiden Moffat confirmed his continuing entry in the Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A Class. “The BTCC is where we’re going to stay,” said Moffat. “It’s a fantastic championship and as a team we’re constantly improving.”

Having jump-started the merry-go-round in October, Andrew Jordan put rumours surrounding his final destination to rest as he joined West Surrey Racing. The former BTCC title winner will race the latest development of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport – which won both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’/Constructors’ championships this season – in both 2017 and 2018.

The following week, he spoke to btcc.net following a full day's testing at Brands Hatch to get a handle on the BMW.

November proved to be a busy month in the BTCC. Matt Simpson made his intentions clear for the forthcoming season after he announced a partnership with Team Dynamics would be on the cards for 2017, having entered the championship with the backing of Speedworks Motorsport for his maiden campaign.

News then broke of Vauxhall's return to the championship, with Power Maxed Racing. The agreement would see the return of the Vauxhall Astra to the BTCC from 2017 onwards. As an integral part of the agreement Power Maxed Racing would now run two new Vauxhall Astras – 2016 European Car of the Year ­­­­­­­– as a Manufacturer entry.

Adam Weaver Managing Director of Automotive Brands, Team Principal of Power Maxed Racing said: “We are incredibly pleased and proud to be working with Vauxhall and to be the team that brings this iconic and highly successful brand back to the BTCC. The all new Astra is a fantastic car and it is no surprise that it was voted 2016 European Car of the Year – it will make a show-stopping BTCC challenger.” 

Shortly afterwards, Senna Proctor was unveiled as the first of PMR's new drivers following the departures of Kelvin Fletcher and Hunter Abbott.

On 23 November, AmD Tuning's Ollie Jackson re-signed for 2017, driving what is set to be an updated Audi S3 – equipped with new RML parts. It also became clear a week later that the outfit would be expanding its operation to two cars for the new season.

With December looming, Team HARD's plans then took a further step towards finalisation with the return of Michael Epps. “You know, I was a little concerned about being a one season wonder in the BTCC, especially being such a tough season, but I’m glad I was able to make an impression and create a 2017 campaign out of it,” said Epps.

On 5 December, Series organiser TOCA confirmed the allocation of all TBLs for the coming season and that entries had then closed. All 32 TOCA BTCC Licences were allocated. With that confirmation, it became clear that Motorbase Performance would be expanding its operations to a three-car attack.

The Kent-based squad then announced a new title sponsor set to adorn its three Fords – Shredded Wheat – along with the re-signing of Motorbase stalwart Mat Jackson, after what was a successful 2016. Team Principal David Bartrum said of the sponsorship deal: “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.”

Into the second week in December and BTC Norlin Racing joined the fold as a new outfit, running a brace of Chevrolet Cruze cars. The Northern Ireland-based team has a multi-year deal with a leading hotel development company, Norlin, and recruited Chris Smiley as its first driver and Dave Newsham its second.

On to 19 December, and Power Maxed Racing finalised its driver pairing with Tom Chilton's return to the BTCC. Tom Chilton said: “I am delighted to be back in the BTCC, I have continued to watch as a fan while racing in World Touring Cars and the itch to get back behind the wheel on British soil has never gone away. So you can imagine how excited I was when Adam got in touch, plus to get to return in a Vauxhall Astra, a car that I know and love is a dream."

After a minimum of respite over Christmas and New Year, preparations continued apace. WIX Filters generated the first story of the New Year with the news that they would be returning as backers at WIX Racing for Adam Morgan's 2017 tilt. “I am over the moon,” said Morgan.

Then came Autosport International. Traditionally a hotbed of announcements and unveilings, this year's Dunlop BTCC stand did not disappoint. On the eve of the show, a flurry of action took place. Jeff Smith was confirmed at Eurotech Racing, Tom Ingram at Speedworks Motorsport, Rob Austin at Handy Motorsport and finally Ant Whorton-Eales at AmD as second driver.

Covers off time at ASI was to follow. Triple champions Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal revealed a stealthy-black new look for its Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R. Matt Neal said: “I think our new livery looks really striking and aggressive – we’re going for a ‘stealth-like’ approach this year! I’m feeling strong, I’m feeling fit and I’m excited about the season ahead." Gordon Shedden added: “As far as I’m concerned, going into a new season as the defending champion is the best position to be in and I’m hopeful that we will be there or thereabouts from the outset."

Rob Austin and Simon Belcher of Handy Motorsport were thrilled to unveil a major new partner and reimagined livery at the show – with Northgate joining the outfit.

Matt Simpson's Team Dynamics-backed Honda Civic Type R was also shown for the first time this year.

With Andrew Jordan confirmed to be racing with WSR, fans of the Midlander would be keeping a keen eye on what the popular Pirtek Racing livery would look like on the BMW 125i M Sport. On day one of the show, off came the covers.

Livery unveils completed, for now, attention once again turned to drivers. Motorbase's business was completed with the news that Martin Depper would move from Eurotech Racing and Luke Davenport would join the stable. 

Then, news broke that Colin Turkington and Team BMR had agreed to part ways. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Team BMR and will savour the success we shared together over the past two seasons,” said Turkington. “However, the time has come to part company and apply the focus to each of our own individual goals and needs."

Bringing things right up to date was the news this week that Jack Goff would be heading Eurotech's way. “We are delighted to have been able to put together a deal with Jack,” said Eurotech Team Principal Jeff Smith. “We have been in talks with many drivers over the winter which has been a long process, but we wanted to get it right. Our aim was always to put a talented young gun in to the second seat which we have undoubtedly managed to achieve with Jack."

Announcements are still to follow, so keep your eyes here at btcc.net and across our social media channels in the run up to Season Launch on 16 March.

Eurotech Racing has announced that Jack Goff will be joining the squad for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Goff will partner Jeff Smith in the team’s second Honda Civic Type R.

"We are delighted to have been able to put together a deal with Jack,” said Eurotech Team Principal Jeff Smith. “We have been in talks with many drivers over the winter which has been a long process, but we wanted to get it right. Our aim was always to put a talented young gun in to the second seat which we have undoubtedly managed to achieve with Jack.

"We have been impressed with the performance and professionalism he has shown over the past few seasons in the BTCC and are confident that Jack’s race craft combined with our Type R will be a force to be reckoned with. We know our cars are capable of winning the Championship and with Jack’s proven ability we are confident this is an achievable goal. We have a comprehensive pre-season testing programme in place and will hit the ground running, from the first round at Brands Hatch – we intend to be on the podium."

Goff said, "This is a really exciting opportunity for both myself and all of my loyal sponsors. I have been fortunate to have raced with many successful teams during my short time in the BTCC and having met the Eurotech Racing team and visited it's very impressive facilities, it is already very clear they have all the personnel and resources to give me a great chance to be fighting for championship honours in 2017.

"The car is a proven winner, with Gordon having won the past two championships and with the Swindon engine I think we have a very competitive package for the 2017 season.

"I am under no illusions that the championship is going to be as competitive as ever this season and there is going to be a large number of drivers fighting for the trophy, come Brands Hatch in October, we just need to make sure we are mathematically in contention.

"I must say a huge thank you to all of my loyal sponsors and Eurotech Racing for giving me this opportunity."

 

Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin drew first blood in 2017 as he topped the British Touring Car Championship Drivers time trial in the Live Action Arena at the Autosport International Show last weekend.

A strong selection of drivers were paired head-to-head in a Ginetta GT Supercup car as part of the hour-long show, held in front of thousands of fans. Of course, what was intended as a light-hearted contest would never truly prove to be so with a line-up full of ultra-competitive BTCC racers...

Austin, who will once again step into Handy's Toyota Avensis this season, set the quickest time on the very last outing around the two-lap course on Sunday evening – pipping the rest to the post right at the end of the weekend's action.

“I am certainly counting this as a victory – my first of the season,” said Austin. “I am a bit disappointed that I didn’t get a trophy though. Hopefully they will come later in the year!”

Times

1 Rob Austin 36.200s Sunday

2 Colin Turkington 36.830s Sunday

3 Gordon Shedden 37.000s Saturday

4 Matt Neal 37.700s Saturday

5 Andrew Jordan 37.780s Sunday

6 Ollie Jackson 38.040s Sunday

7 Matt Neal 38.240s Sunday

8 Aron Taylor-Smith 38.710s Saturday

9 Senna Proctor 38.720s Sunday

10 Mike Epps 39.390s Saturday

11 Rob Austin 40.500s Sunday, first run

12 Colin Turkington 41.380s Saturday

13 Dave Newsham 43.150s Saturday

14 Aron Taylor-Smith 43.800s Sunday

15 Tom Ingram 44.850s Saturday

16 Andrew Jordan 44.230s Saturday

17 Senna Proctor 47.400s Saturday

18 Matt Simpson 49.820s Saturday

AmDTuning.com is an outfit looking to push its operation up a notch for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as it expands to a two-car operation.

Driving those striking Audi S3s will be the returning Ollie Jackson, partnered by reigning Renault UK Clio Cup champion Ant Whorton-Eales – confirmed this week by buoyant team boss Shaun Hollamby.

"I’m very pleased with what we've done," started Hollamby. "Ollie came on leaps and bounds last year, getting used to the Audi S3.

"The deal was done very late in the day for the previous campaign so he was thrown in the deep end, and I think he did very well given that.

"We’ve been planning the second Audi for a year and a half now with the shell ready to go. The key for me is to get young blood into the series and Ant Whorton-Eales was always on the radar.

"He was talking to other teams and I’m really keen to have someone young and enthusiastic like him. Plus, we can fight for the Jack Sears Trophy, which we won a few years back with Dave Newsham. I know we’ll be getting a feisty racer."

Last year, a lack of testing hampered Jackson and AmD. At the mid-season Dunlop Tyre Test, the outfit uncovered a setup tweak that yielded some half-a-second – enough to throw them into the mix for points, in what is an incredibly competitive field, throughout the second half of 2016.

"We had Keith Cheetham join us, an engineer from our GT programme, and he found a few things on the car – particularly on dampers.

"It really made the car come alive. It didn’t take much, given the competitiveness of the BTCC, to fire us up the order. We found pieces on the car setup wise and with Ollie in the car without it being a race weekend situation, it made a difference.

"A bit more luck in the last couple of races and he’d have been top ten. At Rockingham, we were legitimately battling with Gordon Shedden – a guy fighting for the championship – it was great for us."

Jackson himself is thrilled at the promise of continuity, having signed a new deal early – giving him a good amount of time in preparation for the Brands Hatch opener over the first weekend in April.

"It’s great for me to get some continuity in touring cars and what better place to get it," said Jackson. "We all get on really well, it’s a nice atmosphere and we’ve got a fantastic car as well.

"It’s going to be massively competitive this year but we’ve prepared well ­as a team and I’ve never been as ready as I am now with the deal in place early. It’s the best chance we’ve had of getting some results.

"Now we've a second S3, It’s double the running time and development on the car. With someone as quick as Ant, it’s all going to be very valuable."

As for new signing Whorton-Eales, it's something of a dream come true to be racing in the BTCC – the top of the touring car tree.

"It’s going to be a really good year. It’s a good move for me and I'm in a great car. I’m looking to learn from Ollie and overlay data to push the cars up the grid.

"It’s been a dream for years. Five years in the Clios did feel like a really long time and to win that championship last year made it feel like the perfect time to move on.

"It’s always been touring cars for me – I’ve never been interested in anything else.

"I knew the car was available and we managed to come to an agreement with Shaun [Hollamby]. I’m thankful to Stewart Lines for pushing me and getting my name out there too. I’m hoping to get dialed into the car and straight into it."

It has been a hugely busy week in the BTCC with announcements and unveilings aplenty, and news of Motorsport Performance's completed driver line-up was among them.

Fresh from confirming that Luke Davenport and Martin Depper would join multiple race winner Mat Jackson at the Kent-based squad, the Team Shredded Wheat boys got together with Alan Hyde to record a special video podcast...

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow and Dunlop Group Motorsport Communications and Public Relations Director James Bailey look ahead to the forthcoming campaign and in particular the introduction of new, wider Dunlop tyres…

Click below to listen to the interview in full.

Colin Turkington and Team BMR have today (13 January) announced that they are parting ways by mutual consent.

Turkington joined Buntingford-based Team BMR in 2015, campaigning a Volkswagen CC to fourth in the overall classification that year – as well as Independents’ honours for the fifth time in his BTCC career – and claiming the same position last season behind the wheel of the new Subaru Levorg GT.

Along the way, the two-time champion made history by claiming Subaru’s first-ever BTCC race victory at Oulton Park, and team owner Warren Scott was quick to pay tribute to the significant role that Turkington played in the squad’s successes and maiden Teams’ championship crown in 2015.

“Colin has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the past two seasons and has brought a tremendous amount of knowledge to the team, which has aided BMR in its growth and development as a front-running BTCC team,” Scott commented. “I wish Colin good luck for the forthcoming season and would like to thank him for all his efforts and great achievements that he has brought to BMR.”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Team BMR and will savour the success we shared together over the past two seasons,” added Turkington. “However, the time has come to part company and apply the focus to each of our own individual goals and needs.

“I sincerely value the journey we have shared together, securing the Teams’ Championship in 2015, winning my fifth Independents’ title and of course the thrilling year we have just had with the Subaru Levorg. I have been fortunate to work with some of the best in the business at BMR and it has been a valuable experience and certainly helped me grow and improve.

“The BTCC is surely one of the toughest championships in the world to win, and to finish last season with a realistic shot at winning the title in a new car was a tremendous achievement. I wish Team BMR every success going forward and I hope that they are just as proud of our two seasons together as I am.”

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign kick-started today as driver and car unveilings took centre-stage on the Dunlop BTCC stand at the NEC’s Autosport International.

A busy schedule of key announcements was finalised in the lead up to the event and duly, from doors-open on Thursday morning, a string of cars and drivers were revealed as teams laid out their 2017 plans. On top of the announcements, Series Director Alan Gow took to the main stage as well as the BTCC stand alongside Dunlop's James Bailey to speak on the season ahead, as did a clutch of drivers – eager to outline their prospects for 2017.

Halfords Yuasa Racing took the wraps off its challenger with triple title-winners Gordon Shedden and team-mate Matt Neal on-hand to do the honours, with a striking and stealthy black livery the direction the Team Dynamics-backed outfit will take for 2017. Simpson Racing, switching to the Team Dynamics stable this season after debuting under Speedworks Motorsport's banner last year, also showed its Honda Civic Type R adorned in new colours.

Rob Austin confirmed his continued deal with Handy Motorsport on Wednesday and took the opportunity on Thursday at ASI to introduce a major new sponsor, Northgate plc. alongside a sharp re-imagining of Handy Motorsport's green-and-white.

AmDTuning.com revealed the man that would be taking the wheel in its second car this coming campaign with reigning Renault UK Clio Cup champion Ant Whorton-Eales also on hand to help pull back the covers on the stunning-looking AmD Audi S3.

“As a rookie driver, the main target has to be the Jack Sears Trophy and it would be nice if we could be pushing towards the top ten in the championship by the end of the year," Whorton-Eales said. 

“Of course that won’t be easy and I’m aware that I have a lot to learn, but I also want to aim high and make the most of the opportunity I now have.”

Motorbase Performance, too, took the opportunity to show just who would be sitting in the other two of its Shredded Wheat Ford Focus', with Mat Jackson already confirmed. Martin Depper joined the line-up with a wealth of experience, having made his BTCC debut in 2010. After a short absence, the Midlands-based driver returned to the series in 2014 with Eurotech and has become a regular points-scorer in the past three seasons.

Another new name on the grid for 2017, following Whorton-Eales announcement, 23-year-old Luke Davenport comes to the series from a successful sportscar background. Having worked his way through the Ginetta ranks, the Cambridge-based driver competed in the British GT last season, piloting the factory-team’s G55 GT3 and will be challenging for the Jack Sears Trophy during his maiden BTCC season.  

Finally, West Surrey Racing-supported Pirtek Racing revealed what the latter's colours would look like wrapped around a BMW 125i M Sport. The now-trademark blue and orange scheme is always a favourite among BTCC fans – particularly followers of long-time Pirtek and new-to-WSR man Andrew Jordan – who were suitably impressed with the results.

Much more is to come over the next three days from the NEC. There will be further interviews with a host of BTCC personalities – drivers, key team personnel, partners and leading figures from the championship including Series Director Alan Gow, Dunlop’s James Bailey as well as ITV Motorsport’s team.

When doors open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, there will be autograph and selfie sessions where fans will get a chance to meet their heroes. On the subject of selfies, we’ll be running a competition throughout the show where fans, using #BTCCSelfie, can send in their best BTCC-related shots from all over the show floor to be in with a chance of winning a money-can’t-buy experience.

The best #BTCCSelfie will receive two tickets, a grid walk, a garage tour plus a photo with your favourite driver at the Donington Park race weekend in April.

Donington Park will also be offering fans an exclusive ticket offer over the course of the event via the Dunlop BTCC stand (Stand 6440 in Hall 6).