Stewart Lines to give it the 'Maximum' in 2016

Maximum Motorsport has today announced its intentions to compete in the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. This follows the successful purchase of AmD Tuning’s Ford Focus and TOCA BTCC License (TBL) with plans to launch a maximum effort on the BTCC next year.

The Midlands-based team will be the new boys in the BTCC paddock next season, and looking forward to the challenge ahead, Team Owner and driver Stewart Lines said, "It was the right time for Maximum Motorsport to be in charge of its own destiny. I run other businesses and this new enterprise is a great new opportunity to be active in something we love doing."

John Hall co-owner of the team said, "Stewart and I would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Shaun Hollamby at AmD Tuning for providing this opportunity. We are fully aware, ready and excited to be part of the fantastic series that is the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The work has already begun and we will post updates as we progress."

Piloting the Maximum Motorsport Focus for the 2016 campaign will be the MD of Maximum Motorsport, Lines, who has just completed in his first full BTCC season with Houseman Racing’s Toyota Avensis, securing third in the Jack Sears Trophy. He added, "We will try our hardest to be the most competitive we possibly can be for 2016. This is the hardest race series in the UK. It’s a challenge, but a very exciting one."

The Focus ST will remain in its current form for pre-season testing, allowing the newly formed team to adapt to the car. Lines said, “We would like to upgrade to the new RML parts, but initially we will keep the car as it is for pre-season and make that decision further down the line. We need to get our feet under the table first with the new machinery. I cannot rule out upgrading to the new Mountune EcoBoost engine but time will tell.”

Maximum Motorsport can already confirm a title sponsorship deal from MaximumGroup.net, who will be backing the team throughout the 2016 campaign.

For more information, head to the team’s two new websites:

www.maximummotorsport.uk
www.stewartlinesbtcc.com

Priaulx joins Plato to form Race of Champions BTCC super team

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be leading the charge for the England team in next week’s Race of Champions (20/21 November). Along with the already announced Jason Plato, another tin-top star – Andy Priaulx – will be joining the fray alongside his 2015 championship rival in what will be something of a BTCC super team.

As the experienced and multiple championship-winning pairing face off against some of motor sports biggest names, including the likes of Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and another former BTCC ace Tom Kristensen, it’ll be a fascinating chance to see how Team England 1 stacks up in a series of flat-out challenges in equal machinery.

Priaulx and Plato have enjoyed former success, as in 2010 the pair reached the final of the ROC Nations Cup. Back then they defeated Team Germany's Vettel before narrowly losing out to Michael Schumacher in the tie-break. In this 2015 reunion they aim to go even further for Team England 1 next Friday.

Ahead of the event, Priaulx said: “What a great way to end a busy season – joining all my fellow champions in a fun head-to-head battle. Same cars, same track: it will be an epic challenge. I love this event. Fredrik Johnsson and his team put on a great show so I can't wait to get there and catch up with everyone.”

Jordan enjoys first Motorbase outing

2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion is the first major mover ahead of the 2016 season as he recently announced a switch to Motorbase Performance. The Pirtek-backed racer took to the track for the first time in the Ford Focus at Brands Hatch today (11 November), and having not won a race this year in the Triple Eight Racing MG6, left happy with the feeling and performance of his new car.

Speaking to the Brands Hatch media office, Jordan said, “It's been a while since I've driven a Touring Car and come out with a smile on my face, and I'm very happy. I think we'll have some fun next year. I'm so pleased I came here for this test before Christmas – it's a nice boost.

“It's nice to get in something that does what it should, it does a bit more what the driver's trying to get it to do and it's properly sorted. Even if it didn't handle well I'm sure people will think I'll say it handles well, but it genuinely does. I haven't felt this confident and happy for a while.”

With three pole positions and four wins in the second half of 2015, the Motorbase Ford Focus certainly drew plenty of attention to itself, and Jordan continued, “It's not all engine. I've done some long runs today and they've done a fantastic job with it, and I can see why they're as dominant as they were over the second half of the season. That being said, we need to focus on next year, the goal is to win the championship, and I feel we're going to be challenging. I've been in it long enough to know that you always need a bit of luck; you need things to go your way a bit. It's going to be fun.”

Image ©Kevin Ritson/MSV

Watch the BTCC Season Review on ITV Player

Champion Gordon Shedden joins Louise Goodman to look back at how he won the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for this two hour show, which also includes exclusive interviews with other key players from this unforgettable season.

Having premiered on ITV4 last Sunday 8th November the show can now be watched for the next month via the ITV Player. As well as being able to view the programme via your desktop ITV Player is also available through a number of TV, games consoles and mobile devices.

 

“It just means everything. The first one was obviously a blur… to come back and do it again just moves it up another level. It’s what my life revolves around – everyday of the week is about my racing and about touring car racing” Gordon Shedden, Honda Yuasa Racing.

The ITV Sport team also talks exclusively to Andy Priaulx, David Bartrum, Jack Goff, Adam Morgan, Aiden Moffat, Sam Tordoff, Mat Jackson, Aron Smith, Tom Ingram and Josh Cook about their highs and lows of the campaign.

The programme runs through the season from start to finish, as we relive some of the biggest moments from 2015, before the 120-minute blockbuster closes with another chat with Scotsman Shedden.

Enjoy the show!

 

2016 BTCC TBL holders confirmed

Team entries for 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship announced 

The TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) holders for the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship have been published today (4 November).

Current TBL holders had until the end of October to pay the required deposit to secure their entry and also file applications for any new/additional licences. Series organiser TOCA has now confirmed the distribution of all available TBLs for next season, which teams must possess as part of the entry process for the BTCC.

The TBL system was first introduced back in 2014 where a maximum of 30 TBLs were made available to teams to secure each entry for a minimum of three seasons (i.e. until the end of 2016). TOCA retained two further TBLs that may be loaned to a suitable entrant, but these will not be sold or permanently transferred.

The following is a complete list of the 32 TBLs distributed to teams for the 2016 BTCC season.

Name No. of TBLs
AmD Tuning 2
Dextra Racing 1
Eurotech Racing 2
Rob Austin Racing 2
Handy Motorsport 1
Honda Yuasa Racing 3**
Houseman Racing 1
Laser Tools Racing 1
888 Race Engineering 2
Motorbase Performance 2
Power Maxed Racing 2
Team HARD 1
Speedworks Motorsport 2*
Support Our Paras Racing 1**
Team BMR 4
WSR 3
Welch Motorsport 1
WIX Racing 1
TOTAL 32

* denotes additional TBL issued
** denotes one 2016 TOCA TBL loan

 

Moffat returns with Laser Tools Racing and Ciceley Motorsport for 2016

Aiden Moffat and Laser Tools Racing have announced that they will again team up with Ciceley Motorsport for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2016.

The 2015 partnership yielded considerable success, the highlight being both Ciceley-prepared Mercedes-Benz A-Class drivers Moffat and Adam Morgan starting on the front row of the grid at Knockhill with both drivers finishing on the podium. Aiden also secured his first Independent win at Donington Park and is now a serious contender. This continued joint venture hopes to put young guns Moffat and Morgan in the championship hunt when the 2016 season kicks off in April.

Aiden said: “I’m really happy to be staying in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and, with the continued support of Laser Tools, I’m really looking forward to the 2016 season. This year has been a really good season for us and this inspires further confidence throughout the entire team. I was 19 last month and my sponsor, my team and my car have helped me to mature both as a person and a racing driver over the last 12 months. We have our aims for 2016 and continuing to have the car prepared by Ciceley Motorsport gives us the perfect platform to achieve our target.”

Laser Tools Racing Team Principal, Bob Moffat commented: “We have achieved everything we set out to do in 2015; Aiden felt immediately comfortable and confident in the capabilities of the Mercedes right from the start of the season. Our aim was to get top-ten finishes with at least one top-five, so to achieve that together with an independent win and a podium for Aiden at Knockhill, it has definitely been a successful year.”

Russell Morgan, Ciceley Motorsport Team Owner, said: “This is very good news for both teams. Nobody has been surprised by Aiden’s pace this year. We immediately witnessed his potential and his natural talent during his very first test in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class at Donington Park, when Aiden lapped the track within the same couple of tenths all day long. All Aiden needed was seat time which in turn has honed his racecraft. This year he has kept Adam honest, and will continue to do so in 2016 as they push each other which in turn is helping us to develop the cars. WIX Filters have also recently extended their title sponsorship agreement with our team, meaning the Ciceley Mercedes team can only benefit further from our continued association.”

Motorbase Performance signs Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing for 2016

Motorbase Performance has announced Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing as the first signing for the Kent-based squad’s 2016 campaign.

Jordan, the 2013 champion and 14–times race winner, joins David Bartrum’s squad for his ninth season competing in the BTCC, and the Red Bull athlete believes that the mountune-powered Ford Focus ST represents one of the strongest packages on the grid as he looks to reclaim the drivers’ crown.

“The car is obviously very quick and looks very well sorted,” said Jordan, who raced against the Ford Focus over the second half of 2015. “From what I’ve seen, it looks after its tyres very well and carries the extra weight well.”

“You need to have a passion to succeed in the BTCC and we want to be with a team that really wants to win. David and the team at Motorbase have that passion and determination,” Jordan continued. “I want to arrive at race weekends knowing that we’re going to be in a position to challenge for race wins.”

The 26-year-old also brings long-term sponsor Pirtek to the Motorbase set-up, with a new striking blue, yellow and red livery for the Ford Focus ST set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

“Andrew is a proven winner and has been the perfect partner for Pirtek,” said Pirtek’s Marketing Manager Tammie Argent-Peters. “The Motorbase Ford Focus represents a real opportunity for Andrew to reclaim his BTCC crown, and I know that everyone at Pirtek will be backing him all the way.”

“It’s great to have Andrew on board;” added Motorbase Performance Team Principal David Bartrum. “He’s a fantastic driver with a proven BTCC pedigree and has all of the right ingredients to help Motorbase Performance push on and challenge for the BTCC crown.”

“He’s everything you look for in your driver line-up and as a former champion he understands what is required to compete and win at the very top level;” Bartrum continued. “Equally, we’re very excited to welcome Pirtek to the Motorbase family. They’re a well-known and respected brand and we are very much looking forward to working with them on and off-track.”

Despite only contesting half of the 2015 season after returning to the BTCC grid at Snetterton in August, Motorbase amassed an impressive seven independent race wins, four outright race wins and four further podiums across four race weekends. Heading into a comprehensive winter testing programme, Team Boss Bartrum is determined to carry this momentum forward into next year as the squad prepares to mount a serious title bid in 2016.

He concluded: “2016 is already shaping up really well for Motorbase and Andrew’s signing is another building block in our preparation for a full championship title assault next season.”

Watch an exclusive video of the deal featuring interviews from Jordan and Bartrum from ITV Sport by clicking here.

2016 BTCC Sporting Regulations confirmed

The sporting regulations for the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship have been confirmed following the annual end of season TOCA/BTCC teams’ meeting.

After an overwhelmingly positive 2015 campaign that was widely acclaimed by drivers, teams and fans alike, there is just one change of note.

In 2015, the BTCC trialled a system whereby the race two grids were set using fastest lap times from race one – however the consensus is that the increased ballast levels and soft tyres are having the desired effect as far as producing differing race results. Therefore, the race two starting positions will revert to being based upon the finishing order in race one.

TOCA also advised the teams that applications for any TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) that may become available will only be considered if accompanied by complete details relating to the additional car, driver and funding.  Should a TBL application be approved and any of the details provided subsequently change prior to the season starting, then TOCA may immediately withdraw the licence and re-issue it to another applicant. As previously advised to the teams, any applications for additional TBLs must be lodged by the end of this month.

Series Director Alan Gow said: “The fact that there are so few amendments to the BTCC sporting regulations for 2016 is testament to the regulations we already have in place. As far as the TBLs are concerned, I’m not yet sure exactly how many additional licences will be available until next month, but I do know it will be very, very few and that they are highly sought-after.”

Dunlop selects 2015 soft compound following test programme

Dunlop, Official Tyre Partner to the MSA British Touring Car Championship, has developed a new specification soft tyre to be used in the 2016 championship.

The new ‘Dunlop Sport Maxx BTCC Soft’ tyre was signed off after extensive testing, culminating in a final validation session at Donington Park yesterday (22 October).

The new Soft tyre uses the same construction as the 2015 Medium specification tyre which improved stability under braking and gave even greater consistency throughout a race distance.

Armand Rup, Motorsport Design Engineer, outlined the objectives of the new tyre: “Dunlop has had tremendous success in open tyre competition this year – winning the European Le Mans Series with Greaves Motorsport this year. This new BTCC tyre uses materials that have been proven in that championship winning tyre in some of Europe’s toughest endurance races.”

The new Sport Maxx Soft tyre was tested on a range of cars at Snetterton in Summer 2015, but the final validation of the tyre was concluded yesterday at a cold Donington Park circuit. The drivers were Sam Tordoff (BMW), Colin Turkington (VW) and Matt Neal (Honda), allowing the tyre to be tested on three very different race winning cars.

“The BTCC season involves a wide variety of circuits, cars and temperatures and our goal is to have two tyres that can perform strongly over a race distance – but depending on the circuit, one tyre will always be the optimum one.  At Snetterton, we tested in 30c track temperatures and at Donington in 12c temperatures and we are confident that we have developed a range of BTCC tyres that have the versatility to suit all circuits and climates” added Rup.

The Soft and Medium tyres will continue to be identified by white Dunlop letters (soft) and yellow and black Dunlop lettering (medium) on the sidewall.

Dunlop Motorsport’s UK Manager, Michael Butler added: “This is the third upgrade to the Sport Maxx BTCC range in two years showing that, even in one-brand championships, we are always pushing forward for greater performance.”

BTCC 2016 starts now with Dunlop tyre and RML parts test

The 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is already taking shape, as a number of teams and drivers have been testing at Donington Park today (22 October).

The purpose of the test was two-fold. Firstly, a variety of outfits have completed valuable laps on a number of compounds from Dunlop which are being assessed for the 2016 soft tyre choice.

A mixture of car configurations tested Dunlop’s various compounds around the 1.2-mile National Circuit, with West Surrey Racing’s Sam Tordoff providing rear-wheel drive feedback while the front-wheel drive contingent was represented by Team BMR’s Colin Turkington and Honda’s Matt Neal.

Dunlop will now assess the data collected by all the drivers before settling on a compound for the 2016 campaign.

Meanwhile Josh Cook has also been on-track in the Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze to test the new RML-supplied parts which are available for teams to campaign in the coming seasons.

While not seeking absolute lap times, TOCA’s technical team was pleased with the results of its first full test of the updated parts. Following the initial running of steering components at the 2015 season finale at Brands Hatch two weeks ago, today was the first time the full system has been in action, and it successfully completed over 50 laps of Donington Park with Jack Sears Trophy champion Cook at the wheel.

“We’ve had to do a lot of installation,” commented Cook at the end of the day’s running. “Obviously it’s the first time the new front and rear subframes have been run in conjunction with the steering components I ran at Brands Hatch, but we’ve already learned quite a bit. Today it’s been about bedding everything in and ironing out any little issues.

“Overall it feels like a really good foundation and it’s definitely an improvement over what we had previously. The general feeling and feedback from the car is good and has given us some better baseline performance over our last test here. We had both cars here so we could run the two systems back to back, and I’m really happy with the package RML and TOCA have put together.”

This first outing was the start of an extensive programme of testing to ensure that the new package meets all the requirements of the UK’s premier motor sport series. The first full kits are on target for their delivery dates in early November.

Image ©Richard Randle