Maximum Motorsport has announced Josh Cook as the driver of its Ford Focus ST for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Team Principal, Stewart Lines, sustained injuries after falling from a mountain bike in January, leaving him immobile with muscle and ligament damage. On review of his situation, Lines seized the opportunity to sign Cook for the coming campaign.

The 25-year-old had become available having recently announced his departure from MG Racing RCIB Insurance and Lines, confident in the Bath racer's ability in the championship, made the decision to vacate his seat, giving the young gun the opportunity to further his BTCC career.

"I’m elated to be back on the grid for 2017 – it all turned around in the space of 24 hours," said Cook. "The support that I received when I announced my departure from MG was incredible. I’m immensely grateful to Stewart for enabling my return this coming season. It’s taken a lot of effort with multiple new sponsors but thank you to everyone involved. I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season testing.

“I think we’ve got a great package with Maximum Motorsport, the Focus has been upgraded over the off-season and with Team Parker Racing looking after the operation of the car throughout the year, we should be pushing for strong finishes from the off.”

“After my accident, we started analysing our options forthcoming campaign to allow myself enough time for recovery," added Lines. "When Josh announced he was without a drive, we grasped the opportunity to sign a very capable young talent.

“I’m disappointed that I won’t be lining up on the 2017 grid, as the car has undergone a significant programme of upgrades over the winter period and is now down to a much lighter weight. Despite this, I am delighted we’re running Josh this season and believe we’ve got the complete package to produce some strong finishes."

The team is set for an extensive test schedule, with its new livery to be revealed at the official Season Launch on 16 March, Donington Park.

West Surrey Racing has announced that Rob Collard will remain with the team for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Collard, who played a key role in WSR’s Constructors’ and Teams’ Championship titles last year with two race wins and six podiums, joins Andrew Jordan and Colin Turkington in the three-car line-up of BMW 125i M Sports.

The Hampshireman enjoyed his most competitive BTCC campaign to date in 2016 as he led the points table during the second half of the season and finished fifth overall; narrowly missing out on the title at the Brands Hatch season finale.

His total of four fastest laps was a figure unbeaten by any other driver in the series, and with over 140 places made up from his starting positions across the season, he was awarded the Dunlop #ForeverForward Trophy at the end-of-year BTCC Night of Champions.

The 2017 campaign will be his 10th with WSR; Collard taking his maiden BTCC victory and podium during a two-year stint with the Sunbury-on-Thames team in 2005-06 and then returning in 2010.

He will drive the latest version of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport for the first time during a week-long test in Spain, starting on February 27.

“It’s fantastic to be staying with WSR," said Collard. "They have a pedigree like no other team in the BTCC and the level of professionalism and preparation that has been key to their success is clear to see in everything they do.

"This will be my 10th season with the team and I plan to use that continuity to my advantage. I took my first BTCC win and my first podium with WSR and now my aim is to take my first title with them too. With Colin and Andrew as my team-mates, I think we have the strongest line-up in the championship and I can't wait to start testing the latest development of the BMW later this month."

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Rob, who has raced with WSR for the past seven seasons – including the entire BMW 125i M Sport programme.

"He’s very much part of the family here, is one of the best drivers in the BTCC for pure racing ability and played a pivotal role in WSR’s constructors’ and teams’ title successes in 2016. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a title contender again.”

Oulton Park was the venue for the start of Handy Motorsport’s 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship testing programme this week, providing Rob Austin’s first mileage of the year in the team’s newly-built Toyota Avensis.

Following a well-received team launch at last month’s Autosport International Show, this week’s running on Tuesday and Wednesday left the Evesham racer suitably impressed with more than 100 laps completed.

The Swindon-based squad, heading into its fourth year in the championship, has been working over recent weeks and months to ensure it is in the strongest possible shape for the coming campaign and the fruits of that labour borne out at Oulton Park.

The car's ahead-of-schedule build and completion ensured development and fine-tuning could begin early – the Toyota's pace and balance at a cold, greasy Oulton Park was a source of encouragement for Austin.

“The two days at Oulton went very well," he said. “The boys have made a beautiful job of building the car, its ahead of schedule and absolutely immaculate as you would expect from the Handy Motorsport team. 

“The weather hindered our track time a little, but we anticipated that by booking two days rather than just one. Out of the box the car was much more hooked up than when we raced here last year and that served as a great example of the progress we made through the second half of 2016."

As well as marking the maiden run-out for Handy’s new car, the test was also the first opportunity for Austin and the squad to experience the new 2017 Dunlop rubber which has been introduced for the coming season. Dunlop’s new SportMaxx tyres are larger, with a 20mm increase in width, with the new construction also expected to deliver increased grip and traction.

“It’s a really nice tyre, full credit to Dunlop for all of their hard work developing it," added Austin. "We completed a good number of laps, worked through our carefully planned programme and we certainly left Oulton with the feeling we have continued on the steep development curve we were on through the second half of the 2016 season.

“It’s got me very excited for the start of the season, the car feels strong and well balanced and I’m feeling very confident about going up against the rest of the field. Brands can’t come soon enough! Before then we have a very comprehensive test schedule organised and a lot of developments to continue working on.”

With just a month to go until the official Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Season Launch at Donington Park, 16 March, the teams are out in force and racking up the testing miles.

This past week has been a busy one. After news broke that he had signed for West Surrey Racing on Tuesday, Colin Turkington surfaced in his new mount – the BMW 125i M Sport – at Brands Hatch for an initial shakedown ahead of a trip to Spain at the end of the month.

Joining him and WSR in pre-season running was Laser Tools Racing. Jack Goff found his feet in the front-wheel drive Honda Civic Type R around a greasy Oulton Park circuit on Tuesday. Team-mate and Team Principal Jeff Smith joined him for a day's work at Snetterton on Wednesday.

Back to Cheshire, and Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin took to the track for an first run of the year in the Toyota Avensis – a car he feels is going places in 2017 after overcoming setup issues midway through 2016, ending the year on a high with a podium at Brands Hatch GP.

Austin ran the 2017 specification TOCA power-plant as well as the new Dunlop tyres, both of which left the Evesham ace suitably impressed.

"The engine and tyres feel awesome and the team are doing a fantastic job," said Austin. "We have a very comprehensive schedule organised and a lot of developments to continue working on – we're back on track at Brands Hatch on Tuesday.” 

Laser Tools Racing has also been hard at work, kickstarting its 2017 efforts at Donington Park this week with Aiden Moffat putting in the hours behind the wheel of a stealth-black interim-liveried Mercedes-Benz A Class – a tease as to its new livery, set to be unveiled come Season Launch.

To come, WSR, Team Dynamics, Eurotech Racing and BTC Norlin Racing are set to head overseas for a group test at Castelloli Circuit in Catalonia, Spain, at the end of the month – 27 February to 3 March. Meanwhile, Motorbase Performance and Speedworks Motorsport will travel to the Algarve and Portimao for some warm-weather running from 27 February to 1 March.

In the immediate future, Motorbase are set to travel to Brands Hatch tomorrow; Laser Tools Racing and Ciceley Motorsport head to Snetterton next Wednesday and Thursday along with (provisionally) Handy Motorsport. Team Dynamics will be at Donington Park on Thursday.

In the week leading up to Season Launch, Handy Motorsport will again visit Brands Hatch, as will Ciceley, Motorbase, Team Dynamics and Eurotech – the latter trio all on 13 March. Ciceley will also head to the Midlands and Donington Park on 9 March with Motorbase at Brands Hatch the same day, having completed some hours this week on the dyno.

Furthermore, there will be two sessions of exclusive BTCC testing at Thruxton during the Support Races' annual pre-event test day.

This will be Thursday, April 20. The sessions are 11.30 to 12.15 and 15.30 to 16.15. It is expected that several teams will test at this point.

All appearances mentioned are subject to change.

West Surrey Racing has announced that two-time Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington has re-joined the team for 2017.

The 34-year-old from Portadown will race the latest development of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport, which captured both the Teams’ and Constructors’/Manufacturers' titles last year.

The partnership between Turkington and WSR has been one of the most successful in BTCC history, beginning with the Northern Irishman’s debut campaign in 2002 and running over nine seasons in three separate stints.

The combination has achieved much success in that time with 30 race wins, 86 podium finishes, eight Independents’ crowns and, most significantly, the overall Drivers’ Championship in 2009 and a driver-and-team double title in 2014.

Outside the BTCC, Turkington and WSR, running a BMW 320si, also contested selected rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2007-2012, scoring a podium finish on their series debut and becoming race winners at Okayama, Japan, in 2010.

Turkington is the second driver to be announced by WSR for this season. He joins 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan in a line-up that boasts 57 BTCC race wins, 163 podium finishes and three Drivers’ titles between them.

WSR’s third driver will be announced soon.

“It feels fantastic to re-join WSR for the 2017 season and I couldn’t be more excited about my return," said Turkington.

"From my debut in touring cars in 2002 right through to winning my second BTCC title, it’s been like a second home for me and my greatest achievements in motor racing have all come with them.

"Combining our accumulated rear-wheel-drive expertise and strong work ethic is a recipe for success and I’m confident this gives me the perfect opportunity to fight for honours once again. I’m particularly looking forward to driving the BMW 125i M Sport and feel the developments that have come about since 2014.”

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “It’s great have Colin back for 2017. His performances with various WSR BMWs have been extremely strong and he’s been a key part of our most successful seasons in the BTCC in 2009 and 2014.

"There’s definitely a sense of unfinished business as, despite our intentions, commercial reasons meant we weren’t able to stay together to defend our championships. We now head into 2017 with a very strong driver line-up, and we’re aiming for more titles.”

Having contested spells in two previous BTCC campaigns 24-year-old Daniel Lloyd is delighted to have landed a full-time manufacturer drive with MG RCIB Insurance Racing.

The Huddersfield driver made a spectacular addition to the BTCC grid during his three appearances in 2016 - qualifying on the front row at Croft and Oulton Park in the Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R - and the Yorkshireman is now looking forward to getting the wheel of the multiple race-winning MG6.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have secured a seat with the MG RCIB Insurance Racing team for this season,” said Lloyd. “I loved competing in the BTCC last year and to have the chance to step up and join the MG factory team this season is a fantastic opportunity.

“It feels almost like a home-coming,” added Lloyd. “I made my BTCC debut with Triple Eight back in 2010 and also raced against Aron [Smith] in the Renault UK Clio Cup, so it’s come back full circle. Aron is obviously a very quick driver and has a lot of experience in the BTCC so I’m sure there’s a lot I can pick up from him along the way.”

Having worked his way through the ranks of the TOCA support package, Lloyd has built up a loyal base of sponsors and business partners over the years – helping him to achieve his ambition of securing a factory-backed seat in the one of the leading teams on the BTCC grid.

“The last couple of years have been quite tough, moving around different series and championships, so I’m delighted to have a full season campaign ahead of me. The BTCC is by far the highest profile racing series in the UK and I’ve worked incredibly hard to get back on the grid this year.

“I have to say a big thank you to all of my sponsors who have helped me to get to this point,” continued Lloyd. “There’s still a lot of work going on behind the scenes and we’re working hard on bringing new partners on-board for this season and hopefully beyond.”

With live coverage of each of the championship’s 10 events featured on ITV4, ITV4HD and ITV.com, the BTCC is the perfect platform for companies looking for engaging ways to introduce brands to a wider audience.

“It’s a massive championship, the biggest in the UK by far with live ITV coverage at every round,” explains Lloyd. “The huge crowds of over 40,000 fans it attracts are fantastic and behind the scenes access all come together to make the BTCC something really special to be a part of.”

Team BMR has finalised three of its four drivers ahead of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with Ash Sutton joining Jason Plato and James Cole in the outfit's Subaru Levorg GTs.

Sutton, 23, joins the Manufacturer team from Triple Eight Racing following a strong first campaign in the BTCC – finishing as the best placed rookie and lifting the coveted Jack Sears Trophy as a result. From the outset, the Hertfordshire racer made his mark with an impressive fourth place finish on his debut at Brands Hatch back in April last year and his success continued throughout the season, leading to a maiden win in a wet race three at Croft. 

Then came two further podiums, two pole positions and two fastest laps in the remainder of 2016. At the season finale in October, he sealed the JST, a trophy he led dominantly over the whole campaign.

“I am over the moon to be offered such a great opportunity," said a delighted Sutton. "I joined the Team BMR Academy at the end of 2014, signing a two-year deal to race in the Renault UK Clio Cup, with a view to working our way up through the 2015/16 seasons.

"Not for one second did I think that two years down the line I would be a part of the BMR factory team; let alone with a BTCC Manufacturer like Subaru. I thought I had hit the jackpot in my debut season in securing a Manufacturer drive; but now being a part of Subaru, and the package that comes with that, has certainly topped it for me.

“Last year I accomplished all of the personal goals I had set for myself. I know that 2017 is going to be hard, but I feel I have all the correct tools to move those goal posts and set myself some bigger challenges. Going into the final round in with a shot for the championship is the biggest aim - but this is the pinnacle of British motorsport, it's the British Touring Car Championship, so I know it’s not going to come easy!"

On the prospects of returning to rear-wheel drive and working with Jason Plato, he added: “I have been asked what my thoughts are on jumping into a rear wheel drive car and to be completely honest I am I’m going back to my roots. I have only had two years in front-wheel drive throughout my whole racing career, so I can’t wait to be back where I belong. I’m looking forward to the intense testing programme we have planned.

“Working alongside Jason, someone I have always looked up to, is something of an added bonus for me. There are three things that have made this Academy journey come alive, those being; my family, all my loyal sponsors, and Warren Scott himself for giving me this opportunity. All I can say now is, roll on Brands Hatch!”

For Plato, 2017 will be his third consecutive year with the team and another BTCC milestone will be coming his way – this year, he will be celebrating 20 years since joining the championship in 1997. 

Jason remains the most successful driver in the history of the championship to date, taking several podiums in 2016 with the all-new Subaru Levorg GT – including a maiden Subaru pole position to mark the start of his 500^th BTCC race which he won with an impressive lights to flag victory, the 95^th of his career.

“I predict 2017 will bring much success, I’m energised and looking forward to fighting for the championship," said Plato. "Our team goes from strength to strength. We have a fantastic new addition to the squad in young Ash Sutton, I’m certainly expecting him to be right in the thick of the action. Testing begins in two weeks and I can’t wait.”

James Cole joined BMR in 2016 after switching from Motorbase Performance and will remain for a second year in what will be his fifth season in the BTCC. The team appreciated his wealth of knowledge, doubly valuable last year in developing the debuting Levorg. Cole has already completed a two day test at Donington Park this off-season.

Cole said: "Winter testing was a revelation. I worked with Jason's engineer, Carl Faux, and wow, it felt like I was in a racing car again. It just felt right - the balance, my confidence. I can't wait to get back in the car and build on what I learned in testing. I need to deliver for the team and myself. Jason and Ash are quality team mates and I relish the challenge to work and compete with them and help Team BMR to win championships in 2017."

An announcement with regards to the outfit's fourth driver will be made in the coming weeks.

MG Motor has announced its driver line-up to compete in the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

In 2017 MG Motor will continue its strategy to combine exciting young talent and experience with Aron Taylor-Smith and Daniel Lloyd joining the MG RCIB Insurance Racing team.

Taylor-Smith is a multiple race winner, despite being only just 27-years-old, he has already competed in over 150 BTCC races. A part of the 2016 debutant team BKR in 2016, Aron scored a race win at Rockingham Motor Speedway along with a number of other podium appearances. 

"It’s a real shame in one way to leave BKR who did such an amazing job last year in their first season, but now I am fully focussed on the 2017 season and excited to ensure I deliver the results that MG not only deserve but are capable of," said Smith. "I am pleased that many of my key team members who made 2016 so enjoyable are coming with me to MG / Triple Eight allowing us all to enjoy further success."

24-year-old Yorkshireman Lloyd joins MG RCIB Insurance Racing having had just a taster of the BTCC over previous years and is looking to have a major impact in 2017. He may be best known for his guest appearances with Eurotech Racing in 2016, where his natural speed shone as he delivered two front-row qualifying performances in just three appearances.

“I’m really excited,” commented Lloyd. “The majority of my racing has been rear-wheel drive so really looking forward to continuing to learn in the front-wheel drive car. I loved the BTCC last year during the three rounds I competed in; I was very keen to make a full return and am delighted to have got the opportunity with MG RCIB Insurance Racing.

“I made my BTCC debut as a one off with Triple Eight way back in 2010 when I was obviously very young at Croft; it will be great to be back within the team. I also get on really well with Aron; obviously Aron is very quick so I think we can bounce off each other.”

Triple Eight boss Ian Harrison – the man charged with putting together the driver line-up – is pleased that the hard work put in over the winter has culminated in a team that he believes can be extremely competitive. Harrison has set the drivers targets to deliver more wins, more podiums and an overall improvement in results over the previous campaign.

“I'm happy that these guys will deliver some solid results for the team,” he said. “Aron is a proven race winner, and we know Daniel has the speed. With more BTCC race experience under his belt, he will be running at the front. The championship looks wide open this year with plenty of other changes in the line-up, and we expect to be right in the mix.”

MG Motor Head of Sales & Marketing, Matthew Cheyne, is pleased to reveal the 2017 driver line-up and said, “First and foremost I am delighted to welcome Aron and Daniel both to the MG RCIB Insurance Racing team and into the wider MG family. As all of our previous drivers have experienced, wearing the octagon on the front of your overalls gives you immediate support from a whole new fan base and we in turn look forward to welcoming those who have historically supported Aron and Daniel into the fold.

"The BTCC is obviously a hugely important part of MG UK’s marketing mix not just in terms of the huge television and trackside audiences but through the additional activations that we bring into our dealer network and events work.

"Triple Eight are really excited by the pace and potential that these two have on the race track but fully understand the importance of the work the drivers do with the brand off it. With everyone so positive and upbeat about the season ahead, we just can’t wait to get going and look forward to the formal unveilings on Media Day at Donington Park on March 16^th.

"I should finish by adding a note of thanks to the outgoing driver pairing of Josh Cook and Ashley Sutton. These guys really understood what it meant to represent MG on and off the track and are a real benchmark for Aron and Daniel on what we can deliver through the BTCC programme. We wish them all the best in their future efforts – except in the 2017 BTCC of course!” 

Laser Tools Racing has announced that it has agreed a sponsorship package with RCIB Insurance that will see the RCIB logo appear on Aiden Moffat’s BTCC Mercedes-Benz A-Class for the forthcoming 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. 

This marks a return of RCIB Insurance logos to Moffat's race car as the company first backed the young Scot during his BTCC debut back in 2013. Aiden was then just 16 years old, making him the youngest driver ever to race in the BTCC, a record the BRDC Rising Star driver still holds to this day.

“It's great to see previous sponsors return to Aiden and the Laser Tools Racing fold,” said Laser Tools Racing, Team Principal, Bob Moffat. “RCIB Insurance was there at the beginning of our BTCC journey back in 2013. At Laser Tools Racing we have a great portfolio of loyal sponsors who work together as a common unit, so it's a pleasure to welcome back RCIB Insurance into the Laser Tools Racing Team.”

Mike Joseph, Managing Director at RCIB Insurance commented, “It's great that we have been able to team up with Aiden after a three-year break while we have been involved with other drivers in the BTCC paddock. As a company we are growing from strength-to-strength and we felt this fits well with Aiden and Laser Tools Racing, especially after they finished the final race of the 2016 season with that fabulous second place race finish. It is obvious they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for the forthcoming 2017 season.”

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.”